As Trump administration seeks cuts in Special Olympics funding, athletes and parents react
By Liz Clarke Liz Clarke Reporter covering the Washington Redskins Email Bio Follow March 27 at 8:28 PM It took a little encouraging to get Olivia Johnson to run her first race. She loved watching sports of all kinds but was reluctant, as a third-grader with autism, to try sports herself.
So it was a mix of sadness and anger that consumed Johnson, who lives in Knoxville, Tenn., when she heard about the Trump administration’s plan to cut Special Olympics’ $17.6 million federal appropriation. “We would pivot and try to do what we could,” Ferguson said in a telephone interview Wednesday. “But in some cases, it would be devastating. It would be a major problem.”
“Without the federal investment, we’d have to pull out of a lot of the schools we’re currently operating in,” Ferguson said. “That funding is critical to maintaining our operation.” Much like Johnson, Allen was shaken by this week’s revelation that the program’s funding was in jeopardy. And she vowed to do what she can to ensure it has a place in Fairfax County. “It has been life-changing for my family,” she said.
For starters, it gives special-needs students the chance to wear the school’s colors, blue and gold, with pride. Though it may sound simple, showing school pride has great meaning to many of his students, he explained, because one of the highlights in their life is being at school. Moreover, the program helps them learn the fundamentals of a sport and offers a chance to interact with their peers.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Analysis | Five Trump trips to Mar-a-Lago would cover Betsy Devos’s proposed Special Olympics cutsThe Education Department budgeted $17,583,000 for the Special Olympics this fiscal year; for 2020, it would be zero.
Read more »
Special Olympics Chairman: ‘We just disagree’ with cuts proposed by Trump administrationEducation Secretary Betsy DeVos is under fire for eliminating all federal money for Special Olympics from the budget. Tim Shriver is the chair of the worldwide organization, he joins Andrea Mitchell to discuss.
Read more »
Trump administration scrambles to defend budget cut for Special OlympicsCritics, including Democratic presidential candidates, called the proposal “completely outrageous.”
Read more »
Trump administration tries to kill Special Olympics fundingCongresswoman Barabara Lee tells Chris Hayes how she stopped Education Secretary Betsy Devos' attempt to zero out spending on the Special Olympics.
Read more »
Everything to know about Robert Mueller as the special counsel delivers his Trump-Russia reportDonald Trump has frequently attempted to deride Robert Mueller using false information.
Read more »
Special counsel did not have sufficient evidence to prosecute obstruction, but does not exonerate TrumpAttorney General William Barr's summary of the principal conclusions from the Robert Mueller special counsel investigation was just delivered to Congress. Follow here for the latest.
Read more »
Special counsel did not find Trump campaign or associates conspired with RussiaAttorney General William Barr's summary of the principal conclusions from the Robert Mueller special counsel investigation was just delivered to Congress. Follow here for the latest.
Read more »
Here are 3 key points Attorney General Barr made about special counsel Mueller's findings on TrumpThe Attorney General said Robert Mueller did not find evidence that the Trump campaign 'conspired or coordinated' with Russia, but as to whether Trump obstructed justice, it neither exonerated the president, nor concluded that he committed a crime.
Read more »
Trump Says He Is Exonerated by Special Counsel’s FindingsTrump says Mueller probe was a 'total exoneration' of him and his campaign, but the report leaves open questions about obstruction of justice
Read more »