Special Olympics Team Offers Opportunities for Area Kids
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| Jenna MontgomeryView Slide Show |
But Montgomery never wanted her daughter's disability to keep her from engaging in activities she loved.
"Jenna is not able to keep up with children her age. She cannot run and play like they do. My other children were involved in different sports through the school but I knew Jenna could never do that," Montgomery said. "So Special Olympics was the answer for her and us."
Jenna, 14, an athlete who competes in Nordic skiing and track and field, has won nearly 50 medals in Special Olympics competition as part of her membership on the city's Special Olympics team, the Greylock Tigers. The 10-member team, led by coach Susanna Thomas, competes in the winter and summer Special Olympic games and are able to thrive in athletics at their own pace.
"The Special Olympics lets these children be themselves. They don't have to prove themselves and be something they're not. They are acknowledged as equals and they're encouraged to help each other," said Montgomery, who volunteers every week with her other daughter, Amanda, as two of the team's assistant coaches. "They walk away with so many hugs and the feeling that they're cared about. It's just a huge second family."
And all it takes to be part of the Greylock Tigers is the willingness to give something new a try.
<L2>"There are plenty of kids who have never been on skis before. It's not about how good you are at first; all you need to have is to be willing to give a lot of heart," said Montgomery, who called her athletes "phenomenal" and "breathtaking."
The "close-knit group" trains together once a week, many of them without any prior training in the winter sports.
"We're not just teachers or adults. We have fun with them and get on skis with them," said Thomas.
"... and fall off skis with them," added Montgomery.
"The coaches get to see the athletes in a whole different light," said Thomas.
Thomas formed the team at Greylock Elementary School in 1999 with only one athlete. Now, the 10 teammates are aged 6 to 15 years old and compete in competitions and take part in other Special Olympics-sponsored events.
"I started the team to benefit one athlete who could really thrive. After that, I couldn't get out of it and I didn't want to get out of it," said Thomas.
Though the Special Olympics program is free and no experience is required to join, Thomas and Montgomery said they struggle to get more athletes involved.
"We really want to let the city of North Adams know that we have a team," said Thomas. "It's great for the kids' social skills and they get to go on great trips."
"Plus, they get to experience things they won't experience here," added Montgomery.
The coaches said they feel like there is a stigma surrounding the Special Olympics that keeps many parents from exploring the possibilities.<R3>
"There are so many people who could benefit from this," said Montgomery. "It was first known only for mentally-retarded people, but that's not what it is at all."
The only prerequisite for the Greylock Tigers is an individualized education program modified to meet specific needs. The Special Olympics eligibility requirements describe their athletes as meeting one of the following criteria: "intellectual disability; a cognitive delay as determined by standardized measures such as intelligence quotient or other generally accepted measures; or a closely related development disability, i.e., functional limitations in both general learning and adaptive skills."
Though running the Tiger team requires patience, dedication and lot of free time, Thomas and Montgomery said they have absolutely no plans to stop coaching. Saying "it's all worth it once you see their smiles," Montgomery added that getting others involved in volunteering is one of the group's goals.
"We always need volunteers - to help at practice or to chaperone or to cook. There's always something going on," said Thomas.
"And you get to meet the awesomest kids in North Adams - and I don't care if that's not a word," Montgomery said.
Though the winter games are right around the corner (in March), the Tigers have a busy couple of weeks in front of them for February. Qualifying heats are in Lenox next month and Jenna, part of the Special Olympics' Global Messenger program that allows athletes to make public presentations about their experiences in the games, is slated to speak at events throughout the county.
What the team is most looking forward to is the Feb. 16 "Passion Plunge" in Worcester, an event that raised money for the Special Olympics. As Montgomery and Jenna's third year, they're used to plunging into a frozen lake for their cause.
"It's really, really cold but you do what you have to do," said Montgomery.
Last year, the group raised $1,400 and the eight plungers are hoping to meet and surpass that number this year.
The message Montgomery and Thomas want their athletes to take away from the competition and the events is clear: "Just have fun."
"I don't care what color medal they get as long as they are doing their best and having fun," said Montgomery. "If you come in first place or last place or somewhere in between, just have fun."
To support the Greylock Tigers in the Passion Plunge, visit the Plunge page or contact Montgomery at maggieandjenna@verizon.net or Thomas at thomas01225@yahoo.com.
