On April 25, 2025; the Special Games event took place at the Joliet Central football field. The Special Games event is a series of multiple games with participants that would include various schools from around the area and their Adaptive PE Programs. Having been paused temporarily when COVID became a widespread pandemic, These games were soon continued back in 2021, with only Joliet Central’s program participating. Groups were created by breaking up the students into teams for the games to then compete against each other in multiple activities. After the teams were created, individuals participated in activities such as water balloons and relay races, however the activities vary from year to year.
This year, each event had 7 to 8 games; the events were pizza box relay, car wash relay, water balloon relay, water balloon catch, water balloon launching, bozo buckets, lasso golf, and bean bag toss. As every year has a theme, this years theme was different music genres.
Kevin O’Connell who works with the Adaptive Physical Education and AVAC program says, “I always feel if the students are having fun, then it is a success.”
Audiences for these games included family members of participants, students, staff, and administrators, even staff and students from Transition Center and Pathways, and district administrators. This year the LIFE Skills and ABC Program from Hufford were invited as well.
The Special Olympics had been a huge event and as of late it has only included Joliet Central which it is hoped to regain its former popularity. Another upcoming event is in October, which is the Walk-A-Thon, a big fundraiser for the Adaptive PE Program.This event concluded the Special Olympics games for this year. It is a celebration for the continuous growth and success of Joliet Central’s Adaptive PE and AVAC Program in which is supported by the school and community.