It’s time to play.
On a brisk April night, inside the gymnasium of Picotte Elementary School in Omaha, a group of physical therapy (PT) students, under the direction of the Munroe-Meyer Institute’s Lauren Arceneaux, D.P.T., is shepherding a group of around 20 young athletes through various activities.
The Young Athletes Program, for children ages 2-7 with and without disabilities, is part of an MMI-Special Olympics collaboration.
See a photo album from the Young Athletes Program
“It’s a sport and play program for children at the beginning stages of learning directions, sports and basic skills,” Dr. Arceneaux said. “Then when they are 8 years old, they are able to compete in the Special Olympics.”
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Participants in the program. |
“It’s been great just to see a lot of kiddos come in, and it’s good for the PT students to get engagement with the kiddos,” Feiten said.
During the program, which finished its eight-week run in April, children work on their fine and gross motor skills as well as their social and emotional learning skills, he said.
“The hope is that they are ready when they turn 8 to participate in Special Olympics events,” Feiten said. “We can get them working on skills they’ll need when they’re actually playing sports.”
The program hosted a Special Olympian, one of the first graduates of the young athletes program, who showed his medals to the young children and spoke about the importance of physical activity.
The program also allows physical therapy students such as Laura Mitchell to gain the exposure of working with children with special needs.
“Kids get an opportunity to get out and play with peers,” Mitchell said. “Being PT students, we come in with a plan, so learning how to take curveballs, go with the flow and let the kids have fun has been a real learning experience and really great.”
Dr. Arceneaux credited a large network of support, including the LEND faculty, Special Olympics Nebraska, UNMC physical therapy students, MMI physical and occupational therapy departments and the staff at Picotte Elementary for the program’s success.
“We were able to offer a program devoted to fun and fitness, where we all learned from one another,” she said.