Parks and Recreation Departments throughout North Carolina partner with Special Olympics in a number of ways. The partnerships helps Parks and Rec departments meet the American Disabilities Act that mandates an offering of recreational activities for people with disabilities.

Special Olympics North Carolina has already developed training materials and competition rules (with appropriate modifications) so Parks and Rec departments can easily add Special Olympics into their sports offerings.

In the more populated areas of the North Carolina, the Special Olympics volunteer local coordinator is employed by the local Parks and Recreation department (28% of the SONC local coordinators across the state). In more rural areas, the local parks and recreation departments offer their support in other ways. 

Parks and Recreation departments can support Special Olympics by:

• provide access to practice facilities
• recruit Special Olympics coaches for individual and team sports
• serve on a Special Olympics local committees
• lend their expertise in event planning to assist with the Special Olympics local competitions
• encourage increased community opportunities for local Special Olympics teams to compete in recreation leagues or scrimmages with other teams
• lead Unified Sports® teams
• host an area-wide Special Olympics competition

For more information on Special Olympics North Carolina and Parks and Rec partnerships or becoming a volunteer, contact A’lisa Tello at atello@sonc.net  or your Special Olympics local program.