10 Ways Special Olympics CT Carries the Torch
A Q&A with SOCT President Beau Doherty
Special Olympics President Beau Doherty with (from left), BeanZ & Co.’s Nick Sinacori, Kim Morrison and Noelle Alix.
Our “Everyone Belongs” blog editor Angela Martin sat down for an uplifting Q&A with Special Olympics Connecticut (SOCT) President Beau Doherty. What a pleasure to talk with Beau and hear how SOCT is innovating amid COVID-19 to continue its mission, motivating athletes to be healthy, fit—and compete.
1. How has SOCT pivoted during COVID-19 to continue to do the good you do?
Beau: Where smaller nonprofits have had to look at a shift in mission, our mission remains as strong as ever. For us it’s been about how do we do it now. And it’s virtually. We’ve moved pretty fast online. We got on the phone with other state programs, including Minnesota and Oregon to benefit from their experiences to host our first Virtual Summer Games, running June 12 and 13. We’ll continue to learn from other states and our own experiences this summer, and apply these lessons to our fall events.
>> Learn more about the SOCT Virtual Summer Games here.
2. What are some of the benefits of going virtual?
Beau: Our SOCTFit5 Facebook group has been phenomenal. It’s a growing community of athletes, volunteers, caregivers and coaches motivating each other to train and keep healthy. We have different themes for each day of the week, such as Movement Mondays and Take-A-Walk Tuesdays. Athletes are posting their walks, getting fit on the treadmill, going on hikes. The content is evolving to include posts from experts on a range of fitness activities and health topics from mindfulness, to how to prepare food, to training insights from WWE athletes. It’s just fantastic! We’re eager for more people to join the group and post, including those without disabilities to help inform, train and motivate our athletes for an inclusive conversation.
>> Join our SOCTFit5 Facebook group here!
3. Any other benefits?
Beau: On the fitness side, it’s been a great opportunity for the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) who runs our Unified Sports® Program to give students with and without disabilities the opportunity to participate in athletics when high school spring sports weren’t available. Going virtual also has made it easier for some athletes and families to make a greater commitment to practice and participate. We’re seeing more involvement from those for who travel and the need to stay overnight at a competition has been a barrier.
4. Are you facing any challenges with going virtual?
Beau: We need to figure out how to better connect with athletes and potential athletes in the state. Often, we need the help of a caregiver or parent to do so. Reaching these folks and getting them to enroll the athlete, or encourage participation is key to increasing access to involvement in our programs. With high obesity rates in our community, and increased inactivity during COVID-19, our message is get active, get involved! We also welcome anyone in a caregiver role to join our SOCTFit5 Facebook group and train along with the athletes.
>> Sign up to become an SOCT athlete here!
5. What about those with special needs in agency care who are feeling especially isolated with COVID-19? Can SOCT be of assistance with their health and fitness?
Beau: Yes, we’re here to help. Recreation and fitness is often not a priority with the greater focus on life and job skills. Yet, the wellness of individuals can go a long way to fostering positive growth in other aspects of life. Our purpose is to motivate. We have programs so agencies don’t have to figure out this piece on their own. I encourage agencies to take advantage of our organization to help individuals in their care increase productivity, lose weight, improve self-esteem, and feel part of a larger community.
6. Are there other ways SOCT is helping athletes feel more connected of late?
Beau: We have 72 local training programs accredited by SOCT, which we offered paid Zoom accounts to keep their local athletes connected and engaged. An early positive outcome: our Groton group has had success with a weekly Zoom bingo gathering. I encourage more local chapters to get creative and look for opportunities to connect with their athletes using Zoom. Also, our Director of Communications and Marketing, Debbie Horne is coordinating training for our Global Messengers every two weeks with experts on public speaking, manners and more.
7. What events are on the schedule for Summer and Fall 2020?
Beau: Our Virtual Summer Games events are June 12 and 13. We begin with Opening Ceremonies and a Virtual Dance Party on five iHeart Radio Stations on June 12. Our Virtual Summer Games are June 13, with four sports and many activities within those sports. For fall, we’ll have a minimum of eight or more virtual activities and four to eight in-person events. To support training for these programs and to help continue to put a focus on fitness and wellness, we’ll be expanding our SOCTFit5 Facebook group with more inclusive content.
>> For more information on our Virtual Summer Games, click here.
8. Will change continue? How does the landscape look going forward?
Beau: The landscape ahead will be different. We’re looking at the kinds of sports we’ll be offering, moving from doing things the “Olympic Way” to athletics that will further engage adults with a lens on skills and fitness, which everyone needs. We’re going to be testing cornhole and sports skills events in the fall. We’re considering a basketball fitness challenge, a softball homerun derby, a catch a fish fishing challenge, and bocce and croquet tournaments. And we’re exploring how we deliver competition in a hybrid format, part in-person, part virtual to meet State of Connecticut and National Special Olympics guidelines, also being mindful of the return to play protocols for each sport.
>> Visit our website here and connect with us on social for the latest.
9. Have donors and sponsors still been able to support SOCT during COVID-19?
Beau: Our first priority with our donors and sponsors during COVID-19 was to check in to make sure they were okay. Our Global Messenger athletes have since participated in producing about 30 thank you videos we’ve sent to company sponsors and large donors so they can witness the good their donations do. So it’s been a time of connection and thankfulness with our donor community. Some companies have continued as sponsors, others have shifted funds to crisis support such as frontline workers, or needed to step away because of the impact of COVID-19.
10. Are there new ways for companies and donors to support SOCT athletes?
Beau: Yes, for example with our Virtual Summer Games, we have companies participating as online cheerleaders, with 15- to 30-minute windows for employees to cheer on athletes as they compete. It’s been a great way to create energy all around—for companies to involve their employees and for our athletes to know there is support. You know, when you’re in crisis, as we all have been, you go through it, and you figure it out. Some things will have changed. I encourage donors to think about the possibility of the future and the positive impact we’ve had. We’re in the business of caring about individuals in the margins. And that will never change.
Beau Doherty is President of Special Olympics Connecticut and Chairman of the Special Olympics North American Leadership Council. A champion for inclusion, Beau initiated the Special Olympics Unified Sports movement. Of Beau’s efforts, Timothy Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics says, “Beau understood before anyone else that when we create sports experiences that are about equals, we unlock the most powerful dimensions of the Special Olympics experience: Transforming pity and exclusion into respect and unity.”
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