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Dear Friends,
Have you ever been bullied and wished someone had spoken out?
Have you ever experienced injustice and wished you had done something?
What about seeing someone doing something admirable and hoping more people are a part of it?
Every time you champion an issue that is worthy, in words or deed, in support or defence of a cause, you are an advocate.
But no one said being an advocate is easy. You’ll have to step out of your comfort zone. You will face people that may not be aligned with you. You will likely be a minority. You will need to challenge status quo.
It will take time, courage, passion, and most of all you will need people to listen, resonate, and come alongside you to let your collective voice be heard.
And this is what Special Olympics is all about. We are a movement that seeks to level the playing field for people with intellectual disabilities, creating an inclusive world, where we embrace one another despite our differences.
This issue, we bring your focus to some leaders who have shown how differently we can all advocate for the same movement. Check out SO Thailand's wildly successful MV that has gone viral, and an amazing campaign from SO New Zealand to push for lifelong equality for PWIDs. Keep a look out for the regional campaigns initiated by SOAP, #MyNormal and Glam Up and Give, to help us reach out to a larger audience and invite more like-minded people into this movement. And finally, we share some guides to help you discover and develop your own story to embark on your journey of advocacy.
Like how a single candle brightens a dark room filled with mirrors - we are all agents of change and have our own might. That’s why we need the power of US, to enlighten, to illuminate, and ignite change and be the advocates for inclusion.
May we continue to change the game and we hope you enjoy the read.
Dipak Natali
President & Managing Director
Special Olympics Asia Pacific
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Astute, resolute and possibly one of the most insightful leaders in our movement, we’re no stranger to Ben Haack’s life-changing story. His voice rings clear not just within the confines of Special Olympics, but beyond.
“How do we convince the world to value the seemingly valueless? How do we take it a step further, and get society to embrace the idea of people with disabilities as leaders.” This is Ben Haack’s challenge for us all. Also just in case you missed it, get inspired by his recent piece on
Leading with empathy in an uncertain world.
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THE RESOLVE FOR INDEPENDENCE |
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Her gentle mien belies Hanako Sawayama’s strength and fierce determination for self-reliance. She is a familiar and friendly face to all in the movement and believes strongly in speaking up for those that have been treated unfairly. She is our relentless warrior whose firm stance on being gainfully employed led her on to be a full-time staff at SOAP.
Hanako’s close to thirty-year journey with the movement has seen her through many chapters in her life and she continues to bowl us over every day. |
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OPPORTUNITIES COME TO THOSE WHO DARE
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He was non-verbal till he was eight, undiagnosed with autism till he was 12, but the moment a microphone reached his hand at his first event with Special Olympics, Haseeb began his journey in advocating for the movement. From speeches at TEDx, publishing a book chronicling stories of PWIDs, hosting TV shows and Haseeb is also now fronting the latest SOAP #MyNormal campaign.
His ability to adapt and reinvent himself in various settings is what makes him a multi-faceted leader, always looking for ways to invite everyone to understand the world he and many others with intellectual disabilities live in.
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EMBRACING THE MISINFORMED
WITH KINDNESS
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The issues and isolation PWIDs face, usually extends to the family. Along with that, judgement, jeers, stares and often well-meaning yet unsolicited advice – Helen Cheong, mother to Johannes, an SO Athlete, has experienced them all.
This is also why she speaks up on the stigma and shares her advice and hope to bridge this gap – to give everyone a chance to know each other better.
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What makes people who usually are apart come together? Sports. Samantha D’costa’s goal and role as a coach is to help her team understand and experience that this bond that unites them goes beyond the love of the game and they may each learn valuable life lessons through inclusion.
Sometimes advocacy doesn’t mean reaching out to a huge audience, it starts within a group of determined individuals with open hearts and minds, to build the foundation of a stronger community.
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Campaigns need champions. Will you help us be a change-maker and be an advocate for these awareness and fundraising campaigns?
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SOAP LAUNCHES #MYNORMAL AMID THE NEW NORMS FOR MANY
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“Launching the #MyNormal campaign puts the spotlight on all the abnormal feelings society is experiencing such as social isolation, loneliness, and the mental stress of not being able to go to work, and missing out on outings with friends and families. It draws comparison to the everyday experiences of people with intellectual disabilities who have been ignored, bullied, ridiculed and marginalized all their lives,” says Dipak Natali, President and Managing Director of Special Olympics Asia Pacific.
The campaign is fronted by athlete leaders Haseeb Abbasi, Stephanie Handojo and Dacki Sandiego who are advocating to change the normal of PWIDs.
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SO NZ WANTS LIFELONG EQUALITY
FOR PWIDS
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Special Olympics New Zealand (SONZ) has launched a new campaign calling for help to reach out to every New Zealander with an intellectual disability who has ever been told,
"You'll never be able to do that..." The campaign highlights the negative messages people with an intellectual disability hear every day.
These phrases have come out of conversations with the athletes themselves — they are things athletes have either been told directly or been made to feel due to a lack of provision for them in mainstream sport.
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SO THAILAND’S MTV HITS 117K VIEWS
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In 4 days, SO Thailand’s MTV Let Me Be The One (
Kor Pen Khon Nueng) hits over 100,000 views, generating positive comments from the public.
The popular song from the 1990s, familiar with most Thais, was rearranged and performed by pop-stars Singto’ Prachaya Ruangroj, Krist’ Perawat Sangpotirat, and SO Thailand Youth Ambassador, Ada Chunhavajira. The video features Special Olympics Thailand’s athletes and hospital personnel.
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Completed in 23 days from conceptualisation, SO Thailand partnered GMM Grammy GMM TV, Thammasat University Hospital, and The Kru Boon Choo Foundation to create the video and it was officially launched on SO Thailand’s Youtube channel on 16 May. This follows its swift decision, altering its earlier plans for a Charity Concert aimed at fundraising and public awareness, to create a Music Video that would give thanks and bring comfort and encouragement to the workforce. |
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As all of us are working from home and probably reading this wearing our PJs and messy hair, here’s a good reason to get all glammed up for a good cause.
SOAP will be part of a global campaign Glam Up & Give and we’ll like to invite onboard this initiative.
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This is a global response to help those severely affected by the coronavirus crisis. Charities all over are joining forces in a spectacular show of global social action. UK, Australia, New Zealand, US and India have gone live with this campaign.
Here’s what you need to do:
1)
Dress Up!
Be as fancy as you want, dress up in your party outfit, national costume, wedding dress or suit.
Check out #glamupandgive on Instagram for ideas.
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Share the Love
Make a Heart with your hands
Take a selfie or even better, make it a fun activity with your family.
3)
Support Us
https://www.simplygiving.com/event/glam-sg
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Next, copy and paste the whole text below into your social media post, while nominating your friends.
All Glammed up and no party to go. Most people with intellectual disabilities have never been invited. Help us change #MyNormal.
I’ve donated to help 10 #glamupandgive charities supporting vulnerable people in the #CoronavirusCrisis
Glam up
Make a ❤️ and take a photo
Donate and share
Donate now at: www.simplygiving.com/event/glam-sg
I nominate @friend1, @friend2, @friend3, @friend4 to glam up and share the ❤️ in the lockdown too. #glamupandgive.
T&Cs at www.glamupandgive.com
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So let’s come together as a movement, have some fun and get all Glammed Up!
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We may all be in the same movement but everyone has a unique story to tell. Your past may shape who you are right now. Your drive, passion and dreams can show everyone who you want to be. Share with the world what matters to you, and invite them to create that future you want, with you.
The process may take a while. It may be easier if you do this with a trusted friend or family member. You may laugh or cry at some of the memories but that’s part and parcel of being an advocate.
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MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR PARTNERS
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