Special Olympics Summary

1. The Special Olympics calls itself the largest sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities and a “global social movement” (Special Olympics, 2015). The goal of the organization centers itself on several principles, both for the individual athletes and the larger system. Special Olympics strives to build global communities in the hope of spreading acceptance and education for the population it serves, it strongly and actively advocates for raising awareness to both the accomplishments and obstacles faced by individuals with disabilities. They are the leading research organization on the capabilities of individuals with intellectual disabilities and this research drives them to advocate for individuals in all areas such as …show more content…
I believe that I already possess the standards as follows:
Standard 1: Ethics and Values: “Social workers shall function in accordance with the values, ethics, and standards of the profession, recognizing how personal and professional values may conflict with or accommodate the needs of diverse clients” (NASW, 2001). When advocating for the individuals with disabilities, I recognize that it is crucial to be aware of my personal values and how I can fit them to best advocate for and help these individuals. One of the professional standards held by social work is advocate for the most vulnerable populations, and individuals with disabilities fits well within this ream.
Standard 2. Self-Awareness: “Social workers shall seek to develop an understanding of their own personal, cultural values and beliefs as one way of appreciating the importance of multicultural identities in the lives of people” (NASW, 2001). I constantly strive to recognize my own abilities and potential in order to have the ability to realize that others may not have the same opportunities as myself which shapes their beliefs and identities as differently as myself, but that these identities are never lesser or not as important, they are just