Volunteer Work

So we just had an issue within our clan regarding a post someone had made as a joke, and it involved a picture of a kid with down syndrome.  Needless to say, there was some less than reputable responses regarding the way people act towards special needs kids.   Several clan members took offense to this, as they had some background with family members who have certain problems. 

Let me start by saying, I'm no angel.  I, myself, have been guilty of laughing at inappropriate times.   I even said in my post, that it's hard not to giggle at them sometimes.  And alot of people are in the same boat. But I'm not too fond of it when people throw around the "retard" term, and subject them to ridicule.  I've worked with kids that are disabled for the past few years, and it's been an incredible rewarding experience.

The thing is, these kids just want to be given the opportunity to do some of the same things we take advantage of.  They have to live life just like you and me, and they were dealt a far shittier hand.  Hang out with them for one day, and your perception will change.  Sure, some of them bite and spit and fight and hug too much, but so do alot of you.  So they deserve to be treated just like you. And believe me, they will laugh their asses off at you if you do something stupid.  I busted my ass last year at the Fall Festival playing catch with a football, and one kid could barely breathe he was laughing so hard at me.

It's not an easy thing to do people, but it's one of the most enjoyable experiences I've ever had.  It's difficult, I won't lie to you. It's crazy the first time you go to a Special Olympics event.  I compared it to "a zoo full of crazy monkeys" in my post.  But once you get in there and hang out with these kids, it's amazing.  Watch them work their hearts out to train and compete.  Watch how happy they are when they win and how pissed they are when they lose. Most of them are pretty happy just to be participating.

So I urge all of you to take some of your spare time and volunteer to help these kids.  Actually, just volunteer in general.   Per the request of myself and a few others at my company, we started a non-profit organization called KeaneCARES (Community Assistance and Relief Efforts).  Our company backs it financially, but myself and seven others run it.  It's rewarding and alot of fun.  Also, if you are in the Philly area, and want to volunteer, Villanova runs a Fall Festival for the benefit of the Special Olympics every year.  Special Olympics for PA has a summer event too, but I'm not sure where it is this year. 

Here's the link to the site:

http://specialolympics.villanova.edu/

I'm not going to say individuals names here.  But to those in the clan that have relatives and loved ones that deal with this everyday, if my response to the initial post came off harsh in anyway, I apologize.  But I want people to know that these kids deserve to be treated the same as everyone else, not catagorized as a "mongoloid" or "retard".  That, my friends, is where the line gets crossed.  I only hope that me helping now can make up for my past.