Special Olympics Florida Walton County

Special Olympics Florida of Walton County provides services for more than 100 athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Services provided in Walton County include: year-round sports training and competitions, life skills, and healthy living initiatives through our Healthy Athletes Programs. 

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children eight years of age and older with intellectual disability. The goal is to give them opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship other Special Olympics athletes.

Activities exist for those of all ability levels, from the highly functioning to the severely challenged. Anyone may participate in Special Olympics if they meet the eligibility criteria of having an intellectual disability or a similar developmental disability and are 8 years of age yo senior citizens. There is no upper age limit for participation. There is no cost to athletes or their families to participate in Special Olympics.

Since inception Special Olympics Florida- Walton County has grown to include over a dozen competitive year-round sports programs and serves over 100 athletes.  As local awareness of the program continues to expand the numbers of families it serves also continue to increase.  True to beach lifestyle form, Walton County was one of the first counties in the country to offer Stand Up Paddle (SUP) for special needs children and adults.  SUP is now an officially recognized competitive sport of the Special Olympics organization.    

Walton County Special Olympics needs help from the community. They need coaches, volunteers and supporters to assist in the success of the program! You do not need previous coaching skills, but you must have the willingness to help athletes realize their goals in training and competition. Over 30 people from our community give their time to volunteer each year. 

Donate your time and money to this outstanding community organization. Also, show your support by coming out to some of the local competitions and community fundraiser parties and events held by local businesses. Follow Special Olympics Florida - Walton County on Facebook for updates. Sign up for volunteer work or donate online: http://specialolympicsflorida.org/walton/.

About Special Olympics Florida 
Special Olympics Florida provides year-round sports training and competition for over 18,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities throughout Florida. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics gives people with intellectual disabilities continual opportunities to develop fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their peers, families and communities. For more information, visit www.specialolympicsflorida.org.