Special Olympics Kansas

01/26/2026

We’re so excited to have John, Caroline, Ryan, Susie, Jacob, Connor, and Keith representing Special Olympics Kansas at this year’s in Washington, DC! They’ll be meeting with elected officials to champion our work in health and education and push for the support our athletes deserve.

01/26/2026

Meet Team Kansas athlete Justin!
Justin says Special Olympics has given him a place to belong and provided opportunities for leadership and connection within the community. He's excited to showcase this at the Special Olympics USA Games! Let's cheer him on as he represents Mission in Co****le!
Read his story here: https://soks.org/usa-games-athlete-spotlight-justin-hostetter/

01/25/2026

...just way colder 🥶
Register for the coolest party of the year at PlungeKS.org

01/24/2026

Today is International Day of Education, and we are recognizing one of the most powerful
forces for inclusion: teachers.

Educators do more than teach lessons. They build confidence. They create belonging. They
help students see what is possible for their future.

Our Chairman, Timothy Shriver, calls this the Year of the Teacher in his 2026 Global State of
Inclusion in Education Commentary. A call to invest in the people who make inclusion possible.
Read more here: https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/news/the-global-state-of-inclusion-in-education-the-year-of-the-teacher

We would love to hear from you.

Has a teacher or coach ever helped create a moment of inclusion for you or someone close to
you? Share your story in the comments.

01/23/2026

01/23/2026

🎉The IdeaTek Athlete of the Month for January is Nolan Smith! 🎉

Nolan has been an athlete for the Douglas County Jayhawks for over 12 years, playing in multiple sports such as Track, Soccer, Basketball, and more. Nolan truly embodies the spirit of education as a graduate of KU who studied Early Childhood Education and now works at the KU Early Childhood Center. He also volunteers for his church, at KU, and pretty much anywhere in the Lawrence area.

Watch his story now and get to know this month’s amazing athlete!

Thank you for watching our video! Please be sure to share and like and check out our other socials!Nominate your athlete to be the IdeaTek Athlete of the Mon...

01/23/2026

Special Olympics Kansas is sending 7 advocates to 2026! This team will share powerful stories about how access to healthcare and inclusive education changes lives. Delegation announced soon 👀 We can’t wait to cheer them on as they meet with our legislators!

01/22/2026

Young Athletes is designed to promote the development of an active lifestyle through play for children between the ages of 2 and 7. Self-advocates will engage in a variety of activities and games alongside their peers, targeted towards gross motor and social skill development.

Check out and sign up for the Spring 2026 sessions:

Down Syndrome Innovations:
https://kcdsi.org/class/young-athletes/
Wednesdays from 5:00pm-5:45pm
Session 1 Dates: 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25, 3/4, 3/11, 3/18
Session 2 Dates: 4/1, 4/8, 4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13, 5/20
Location: Down Syndrome Innovations, 5916 Dearborn Street, Mission KS 66202

Catholic Dioceses of Wichita: Ministry with Persons with Disabilities:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScplLa6lu0oVD1ohgq2FhFxnvcxiiULucz9c6-znRSJ_y1YXA/viewform
Wednesdays from 6:00pm-7:00pm
Dates: 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 3/25
Location: St. Joseph Parish School Gym, 132 S Millwood Ave, Wichita, KS, 67213

01/22/2026

Meet Team Kansas athlete Hope!
Naturally shy, Hope worked hard to come out of her shell. Now she’s ready to step onto any stage and give it everything she has. Representing Pittsburg in powerlifting, this is her first appearance at the Special Olympics USA Games!
Read her story here: https://soks.org/usa-games-athlete-highlight-hope-baker/

01/21/2026

If you could invent a new flavor of ice cream, what would it be? Let us know in the comments!

01/21/2026

Our 2026 events are fast approaching, but let’s recap last year and see what’s in store for this year in John’s annual State of the Program address.
https://youtu.be/jZ-Bve15TeI?si=ULMoyHfGuv64xtwn

Thank you for watching our video! Please be sure to share and like and check out our other socials!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/specialolympicskansas/I...