On campus, I am on the executive board of Special Olympics and I am an active member in Best Buddies. For those of you who don't know, these two clubs provide support to many people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) through various activities and events. My involvement in both of these clubs has taught me a lot about people with special needs and the best ways to interact with them. Many people incorrectly assume that people with IDD are drastically different from those around them. However, I've learned that although people with IDD may talk, walk, or act in unique ways, they are all just people like everyone else. Many people also assume that they have no strengths or special skills to contribute. In fact, they have many and most of these strengths come out in some of the differences that they display. They can serve as great lessons for us. Here's what we can learn from people with IDD:

1. Determination

People with IDD have to live with their impairments every single day. I'm sure this can't be easy in a world that is not always so accepting. However, they manage and many of them are able to thrive.

2. Joy

Whenever I attend a Best Buddies event or a Special Olympics tournament, all of the participants are constantly happy and full of joy. I have yet to see any of them upset. They don't seem to sweat the small stuff. They especially find great joy in interacting with other people as they seem to genuinely enjoy being in the company of others. They feed off of their energy and provide others with some more.

3. Fearlessness

We had a Best Buddies talent show this past weekend and many of our volunteers from PC, including myself, were afraid to perform a talent in front of the group. However, the buddies were very willing and jumped right on stage. They didn't let anything hold them back. They performed the talent they wanted to, in the way they wanted to do so.

I also saw this at a Special Olympics tournament when many of the athletes were not afraid to engage in conversations with people they didn't know. They went right up to many other athletes or volunteers and introduced themselves. They had a true willingness and interest in getting to know someone new.

4. Kindness

At the talent show, all the buddies cheered each other on and helped each other out when someone needed assistance. Many performed with another if he/she was afraid to perform alone. Throughout the tournament, all of the athletes would pick each other up, even when they were on opposing teams. They concentrated much more on having fun with each other than on competing with one another for victory.

5. Optimism

The people that I have met who have IDD never seem to get discouraged. They keep their heads up and always see the bright side of things, even when it may seem silly to those without IDD. They always find something to laugh or smile about.

There are so many things we can learn from those with IDD. Determination, joy, fearlessness, kindness, and optimism are just a few. I really admire those that I have met with IDD and I hope to be able to me more like them with regard to these aspects and traits.