Hello,

My name is Clement and I am a Senior at Salesianum High School.  I am very involved with Special Olympics and in the Campaign against the Use of the "R" Word.  I have delivered a speech to the student body, participate in the Blue Gold Club, coach for Special Olympics and made a Resource Guide for 3.31.09.  Below are a few things I have done for 3.31.09.

I have been asked by the head executive director of Special Olympics of Delaware to represent DE as a unified partner in project UNIFY "Educate - Motivate - Activate"  Bridge Meeting in Nebraska!  My good friend Caitlin is going to represent DE as the Athlete!  We are so excited to go! :)  I will post pics of how it went to keep you posted! :)

UPDATE FROM PROJECT UNIFY:

This conference has been a life changing experience.  I have learned so much from this conference that it is impossible to list all that I have learned.  One of the main points that I have learned is that there are other people who are just like me.  In Delaware, the main youth advocates are Jenny Cusack and myself.  There are many other wonderful volunteers our age for Special Olympics, but they need some leadership. 

I have also learned a lot about Project UNIFY and its impact on the Special Olympic programs throughout the United States.  I am a Unified Partner for Special Olympics of Delaware and I learned a lot from other Special Olympic programs throughout the U.S.A. and their involvement in Project UNIFY.  One activity during the conference was to exchange information about our Year 1 of Project UNIFY in our state.  It was educational and fun to share our experiences and listen to others experiences. 

This conference was educational and fun especially for the Youth of the United States!  The activities were very engaging so that we would learn, meet new people, and have enthusiasm for it!  There was so many things we did, that I never felt bored!  I just wished the conference was longer so we could learn and bond more as a group.  I miss everyone so much!

Caitlin and I have learned so many things that we would like to incorporate in Delaware. 

For myself, these are my goals for Year Two of Project UNIFY:

1)      Start at Best Buddies Program at my school

2)      Make the Blue Gold Club more “educated, motivated, and activated” about Special Olympics, The R-Word Campaign and Be a Fan

3)      Make the Project UNIFY conference in Delaware “Youth for Unity” a success

a.       Goals:

                                                               i.      There to be at least 50 people

1.       Groups of people from each school; it is easier to spread the word with a group then individually!

                                                             ii.      The participants will learn that Project UNIFY’s mission:

1.       “Educate, motivate, activate!”

2.       They will be able to educate others about Project UNIFY

3.       They will make a POE (Plan of Action) for what they will do from leaving this conference

                                                            iii.      The participants will understand the mission of Special Olympics

1.       They will be motivated to volunteer, be a unified partner, or Be a Fan!

2.       They will go back to their schools and help with their Special Olympic program

a.       Or join a local team and be a unified partner or other volunteer position

3.       They will join the Special Olympics of Delaware Facebook Group

4.       They will join the www.sode.org e-mail notification group

                                                           iv.      The participants will be able to teach others about the R-Word Campaign

1.       They will go to www.r-word.org and pledge against the use of the word “retard”

2.       They will go to their schools and educate their school about the next 3.31.10

a.       Make follow-ups with their school / Blue Gold Club to make sure that 3.31.10 will be known throughout the school!  No break in communications!

3.       They will educate others on the hurtfulness of the “R” Word and direct those needing information to videos and resources presented in this conference

4.       The participants will join the Cause “The Campaign to Spread the Word to End the Word” by Soeren Palumbo

                                                             v.      The participants will feel comfortable to contact Jenny Cusack or myself with issues, comments, concerns or help.

                                                           vi.      The participants will feel educated on the topics discussed, motivated from the activities we do, and activated to join us in our mission to spread the word that all people need respect and inclusion regardless of abilities

4)      Spice up the Polar Bear Plunge

a.       Have the youth more engaged and interest in the plunge

                                                               i.      Having youth do other volunteer activities other than going in the ocean if they are worried about hypothermia!

b.      Educate those attending the plunge, about the Campaign to End the “R” Word

                                                               i.      Have information for them to read about the campaign and have resources for more information about the topic

c.       Educate those about Special Olympics and its impact it has had on society

5)      Make a Video to educate people about Special Olympics of Delaware

6)      Make a Facebook group for “Youth for Unity”  Also, a website for “Youth for Unity” for those who do not have Facebook

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On the Homeroom show on 3.31.09 I said a speech about 3.31.09 and the Campaign Against the Use of the "R" Word.  I was only allowed to deliver a three-minute speech.  I heard some good reviews about it and some bad reviews.  My teacher said that I sounded "harsh."  Others said that their homerooms laughed about what I was saying while other homerooms where just quiet.  I think that I maybe got through to about fifty percent of the student body.   

I work at The Mary Campbell Center as a Children and Youth Aid.    The Children and Youth Program offers unique activities for children with special needs, ages 3-21, and their families.  http://www.marycampbellcenter.org/children.html I am a volunteer for a helping the Religious Education class for children of God with special needs.  

I have been accepted into Junior Partners in Policymaking® for Young Adults Aged 15 – 22.  I am so J.  “JPIP participants learn about the importance of self-determination, ways to self-advocate for the issues most important to them, their rights in and out of school, laws that affect how people are treated, especially individuals with disabilities, how to make an impact on public policy (laws), and how to plan the future they want. In the evenings, participants have the opportunity to get together with other participants and enjoy a variety of entertainment together.  JPIP participants stay in dorms, eat in the dining halls, and attend classes at the University of Delaware.”   http://www.udel.edu/cds/initiatives-adults-jrpartners.html  (the website).  I am very happy about going to this to become a better advocate. 

UPDATE:  I had just graduated from JPIP!  It was AWESOME and I LOVED IT!  We learned about People First Langauge, History of the Disability Movement, Assertiveness, the IEP, GOals, Self-Determination, Legistlation and so much more!  I met so many awesome people who feel just like me!  There were 20 campers all together from Delaware.  We stayed in the UD Dorms and had class there.  At night we socialized by group activites and even going on Main Street!  The counselors were current students from UD who either were majoring for Special Education or they had a disabilities studies minor.  They made the camp great and were amazing role models! 

We need to keep educating people and raising their awareness about that hurtful word.  We need to keep banded together and continue to stand up against injustices in our world against people with disABILITIES.  We need to be radicals in our journey and not conform and let society 'win' that the "R" Word is okay.  We need to try our best to help make the world a better place for ALL people!! We are helping to make the world a better place for ALL people no matter their ABILITIES, race, gender, religion or ethnic background.  It is my hope that one day ALL people will be respected for who they are as a person.  I hope that one day ALL people will be judged by their soul, spirit and no by their looks.  "Never judge a book by its cover."  I would also like people to follow the Golden Rule "Treat others as the way you would like to be treated."  The world needs to "do what is good, what is just and what is right."

Have a nice day! :) 

High school:
Salesianum School 2010