Special Olympics Texas plans to open a new area office to support our athletes, parents, coaches and volunteers. The new Golden Triangle area office will serve athletes who are still in school and those who have transitioned from the school district programs.

Right now, about 536 athletes with intellectual disabilities participate in Special Olympics activities in Chambers, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Newton, Orange and Tyler counties. They are supported by 33 coaches and 500 volunteers. U.S. Census data confirms that there are more than 4,800 eligible athletes in the Golden Triangle area (one in every 10 families in the area is impacted). That means more than 4,300 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are not enjoying the positive health and psychological effects of participating in physical activities.

SOTX athletes in the Golden Triangle area can participate year-round in seven sports (aquatics, athletics, basketball, bowling, table tennis, cycling and tennis), as well as Unified Programs, Project UNIFY - Meet in the Middle and the Athlete Leadership Program.

We have incorporated the Project Unify - Meet in the Middle program within Little Cypress Mauriceville, Bridge City, West Orange-Stark, Vidor and Hampshire Fanett ISDs.  Port Arthur ISD will continue its local track meet for all Special Education students, and Beaumont ISD will be adding a local track and basketball event for all of their Special Education students this spring.

The new office also will collaborate with the communities of Jasper and Newton to develop their own locally based programming to strengthen their athletes, volunteers, coaches, families and civic leaders, to give them a stable foundation to begin traveling within the Golden Triangle area, as well as to state level competitions.

We’re currently fundraising to provide the needed start-up funds for a successful launch into the community.