In order to be eligible to participate in Special Olympics, a student must be identified by an agency or professional as having one of the following:

Intellectual Disabilities – According to Special Olympics Texas, an intellectual disability is “characterized by significantly sub-average intellectual functioning, existing concurrently with related limitations in two or more of the following applicable adaptive skill areas: communication, self-care, home living, social skills, community use, self-direction, health and safety, functional academic, leisure and work.”
Closely related development disability, which means having functional limitations in both general learning and in adaptive skills such as recreation, work independent living, self direction, or self care.

Students are able to train at age 6-7, but are not allowed to compete in Special Olympics competitions until age 8. For additional information concerning eligibility of athletes, please refer to the Special Olympics Texas website at http://www.sotx.org/ and/or the Special Olympics Public website at http://www.specialolympics.org/.

Special Olympics

Sports Opportunities

Eligibility

Transportation

Equipment

Uniforms

Volunteers

Resources