JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - “Don’t let mental blocks control you. Set yourself free. Confront your fear and turn the mental block into building block.” -- Roopleen, words to inspire the winner in you.
This quote became all to real in the days surrounding the aquatics portion of the 2015 Special Olympics Washington held on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, May 28-31, when one coach by the name of Genia Stewart instilled and achieved it from each and everyone of her athletes.
“These kids are just like any other kids, they just face more challenges, and I want them to walk away from this knowing ‘Hey I can do that too,’” said Stewart, aquatics head coach and coordinator, Special Olympics Washington.
Many of the athletes, to whom all face an intellectual disability, look to Stewart for direction and motivation, while Stewart, a soon to be five-year veteran with the SOWA, leans on others sharing the same drive and motivation as her.
“I couldn’t do this without the help of the other assistant coaches,” said Stewart. “I often rely on them when things get difficult.”
Just like any other coach, there are many challenges that come with teaching a group of kids, and Stewart isn’t a stranger to these challenges, in fact, she often faces additional challenges most contemporary coaches are not used to.
“Getting them to listen a lot of time is a big hurdle -- getting them to socialize, a lot of them are so withdrawn that they don’t know how to socialize,” said Stewart.
According to Stewart, witnessing these children overcome the challenges that they face is more reason than any for her to continue giving her time as a head coach, mentor and friend to these kids.
“There are a lot of them I see at the beginning of the season that are very quiet and not willing to socialize,” said Stewart. “And seeing that self growth – That ‘Hey I can talk to her because she is just like me;’ that’s a big hurdle to get over.”
The kids aren’t the only people that can see and appreciate the effort that Stewart puts into working with these children through out the years, but the parents can appreciate her efforts as well.
“She is a great help with these kids,” said Kaci Mccarley, mother to one of the athletes participating in the SOWA. “It takes a lot of patience and dedication to do what she does, and she does it with a smile on her face – we love that!”
Many people have a preconceived notion about what to expect from the Special Olympics, but Stewart, along with many of her peers, are helping to spread awareness that these kids are just like any other child.
“I think the biggest thing I would like people to know is they are children too,” said Stewart. “They have needs maybe a little different than people without special needs, but people need to see them as 'normal.'”
| Date Taken: |
06.02.2015 |
| Date Posted: |
06.02.2015 21:32 |
| Story ID: |
165282 |
| Location: |
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WASHINGTON, US |
| Hometown: |
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, US |
| Web Views: |
59 |
| Downloads: |
0 |
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