Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges

By: Blake Yaw

April 16, 2025 | Updated: April 16, 2025

Hello Everyone, 

My name Is Blake Yaw and I am a former Special Olympics Colorado athlete and now currently a Special Olympics Texas Athlete. I currently Play Basketball for the Klein Starz and I play soccer for Sports Quest. I was diagnosed with autism and an intellectual disability at the age of 6 and it's one of the biggest reasons why I advocate for those with disabilities. I am also currently serving on the Young Professionals Board as an athlete leader here in the Houston area. 
 

I am writing this article because I definitely would love to see more advocacy for those with intellectual disabilities especially on the education side of the organization. When I was in Washington D.C. in our meeting with Pete Sessions I had mentioned that we need more educational tools discussing the history of Special Olympics and why it's such a vital organization in our world today. I am also hoping by discussing what I am advocating for within the organization that I can be a voice for the next generation. I am also hoping to accomplish enhancing the Special Olympics Movement in a way that will be able to bring everyone together for the common good of humanity. I am also starting initiatives to have Special Olympic Athletes start going out in the community and start volunteering so more organizations can understand more of those with intellectual disabilities. 
 
I believe wholeheartedly if we as Special Olympics Athletes go out and volunteer we will win more sponsors in this regard. I am wanting to start advocating for more opportunities for organizations who are sponsors with Special Olympics plus parents and athletes to give feedback to their Young Professionals Board. I am hoping to make this opportunity look like a town hall situation where organizations, parents and the athletes could add ideas in order to make continual improvements to the Special Olympics Movement. I would also love to get the local media stations partnered into this as well so we can showcase this opportunity and bring these ideas to other Special Olympic Organizations around the country. 
 
I am also in the process of trying to get Special Olympic Athletes to have the chance to volunteer at [places such as] Goodwill. This will potentially lead to those individuals with intellectual disabilities to have the chance to get a job and get the experience they need for future employment. 
 
Autism never defined who I was. It has made me a much stronger individual in society and now I am starting to travel out of state to volunteer for other Special Olympic organizations events as well. I am hoping that some of these opportunities that I have presented will bring real hope for families of those who are struggling to find a job especially. I am also hoping to have opportunities where Special Olympics Texas athletes get the chance to have those relationships with Olympic and Paralympic Athletes… 
 
I am really grateful to share these ideas with all of you and I hope that together everyone who is involved in our Special Olympics Movement can be that bright light for the next generation. Serving on the Young Professionals Board here in Houston I am Hoping to bring an experience that will magnify the awareness of those with intellectual disabilities. People with intellectual disabilities are much more capable than many individuals have made them to be and it's time that Our society steps up and sees the truth behind those individuals. I wish for our next generation and I look forward to working alongside them to make a real difference in the world.
 
Regards,
Blake Yaw