Young athletes celebrate their achievements, Special Olympics-style

Matthew Colmares was reluctant to climb on the awards stand to receive his first Olympic ribbon.

The 4-year-old has autism, so events like the raucous celebration in the commons of Creekside Elementary School can overwhelm him.

The buzz of his fellow athletes, their families and bright camera flashes caused him to hesitate when Elgin Area School District U-46 superintendent Jose Torres offered to drape a Special Olympics ribbon around his neck.

Early intervention special education teacher Laura Mooberry stepped in to help, scooping up the boy and holding him as he grabbed the ribbon in his hand instead.

Shannon Colmares snuggled her son immediately after, telling him repeatedly she was proud of him.

"Social interaction is very difficult for him, it's a huge challenge, so is the sensory input," Colmares said.

Since January, 45 special need students, ages 3-7, have practiced gross motor skills like kicking soccer balls, running, jumping and shooting baskets. They showcased their skills for family and friends March 12 in the U-46 Special Olympics Young Athletes Celebration at Creekside Elementary in Elgin.

More than 100 athletes will do the same on Thursday, March 19 at Independence Elementary in Bartlett.

"The only extracurricular for the most part for these kids are their private therapies," Mooberry said. "This is a place for them to go and have fun, just like a typically-developing child." She organized the event at the Elgin school.

Athletes - surrounded by family members shooting video and photos - sprawled on scooters to navigate an orange arc of cones, crawled through fabric tunnels and jumped on mini-trampolines. Jennifer Marcello manages 57 Young Athletes programs for Special Olympics Illinois. She said the program introduces the world of sports in a fun way and may help some participants to join traditional Special Olympics programs when they reach eight years old.

Athletes' families also benefit, Marcello said.

"These parents have been told so many times all the things that their kids are not going to be able to do since they were born," she said. "This is the first time that they get to see all the things that their children can succeed at."

Faith Young, 5, was given a difficult prognosis by an early intervention therapist. Her mother Laurean Rexford was told her daughter, who was born three months early, would never walk, talk and would never be self-sufficient. Three years of occupational and physical therapy later, Faith was among the athletes in practice.

"I'd like to find that therapist, she said (Faith) would never walk," Rexford said, while Faith zipped her way through the cone obstacle course, showing improved balance that surprised her mother.

"I learned my daughter could do more things than I thought she could. I think she surprised herself," Rexford said.

The extended family celebrated Faith's performance with a pizza dinner. Her award will soon be displayed in Rexford's Elgin home.

"(This is) the highlight of her last 51/2 years," said the proud mom. "It'll be a memory that I'll never forget."