Testimonials

Special Olympic Athlete Jonathan Doring graduates from PBCC

Special Olympics builds confidence, increases self-esteem and determination, and shows athletes the value of hard work. In the life of Special Olympics athlete, Jonathan Doring, who was born with Fragile X Syndrome, this is an understatement. In the 20 years Continued on page Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department that he has been a Special Olympics athlete, Jonathan has drawn on these, and many more lessons everyday.

In May, against all odds, Jonathan will graduate from Palm Beach Community College with an Associates Degree in Computer Science.

Jonathan started his educational journey in special education at JC Mitchell Elementary School in Boca Raton. After completing 6 years at JC Mitchell, he was enrolled in a special education class at Christa McAuliffe Middle School. His parents could see he had a strong desire to learn much more than was being offered him so they asked to have him mainstreamed into one regular education class. That was how it started. All he needed was a chance and the challenge and Jonathan took off!

In both middle and high schools, Jonathan attended a combination of special and regular education classes. He was given the gift of additional time at Santaluces High School, a precious fifth year, to complete his studies. He completed the required curriculum, passed the high school competency test, after nine attempts, and was awarded a regular high school diploma in May of 2000.

Jonathan began his studies at Palm Beach Community College in the spring of 2001. Jonathan was the first recipient of the Gleneagles Special Olympics Scholarship Award in 2001. Since that time, Gleneagles has awarded an annual scholarship to a Special Olympic athlete to further their education or obtain life training. This helps to create a wonderful opportunity for an athlete to learn new skills for future employment or to take lessons to fine tune their athlete skills in the sport of their choice. Thank you, Gleneagles, for choosing Jonathan to be the first recipient of your annual award.

What’s next for Jonathan? One thing is for sure, he won’t be sitting idle. Jonathan is a year-round Special Olympics Athlete, participating in tennis, softball, golf, and bowling. As part of the Athlete Leadership Program, Jonathan has been a Global Messenger for 8 years and was recently elected Chairman of the Special Olympics Athlete Input Council. In March, Jonathan passed his test and participated in a training session at the Van De Meer Tennis Center in Hilton Head, SC to become a provisional Chair Umpire with the United States Tennis Association.

His goal is to attend the Special Olympics National Games in Lincoln, Nebraska in 2010 as a chair official in tennis. This past September, he celebrated his tenth anniversary working with Publix Supermarkets, where he works as a cashier and front-end service employee.

As for college, Jonathan certainly isn’t finished. Recently, Jonathan asked his parents if he could continue his studies at a major university and work towards a Bachelor’s degree. The response? “Go for it Jonathan – Shoot for the Moon!” (Quote by Les Brown) 

~ By Kathy Doring

YOUNG ATHLETES PROGRAM MAKES AN IMPACT

The Young Athletes program is giving Jamie a chance to be involved in new activities and opportunities that she would never have had the chance to participate in before because she wouldn’t have the skills. She wouldn’t know to wait her turn, wouldn’t know what to do or how to do it. Jamie wouldn’t know that she’s supposed to run to the end … and then stop and not keep running.

The Young Athletes program is teaching her exactly what she needs to know and how to do it. Just the basic skills, basic coordination and movement skills, balance, taking turns, remembering steps, better focus, that’s what I know my daughter needs right now and is learning in this program. Jamie has become more involved with the world outside of her and to have some interaction with other children. It’s amazing how far she’s come in the past several months in the Young Athletes program.

Nancy Wilhoit about her daughter Jamie, a 7 year old girl with Autism involved in the SOFL – PBC Young Athlete’s Program