Supporting Families from the Start: Special Olympics, Early Childhood, and the Power of Play

This week’s episode is deeply personal and incredibly meaningful to me. I’m joined by Rebecca, an early childhood expert at Special Olympics, and Jennifer Pittman, a Special Olympics parent and manager of Healthy Families, for a conversation about the organization closest to my heart. 
 
We talk about how Special Olympics is changing the game in early childhood development, providing crucial support to kids with intellectual and developmental disabilities before they even receive a formal diagnosis. We also dive into their new Young Athletes app, which empowers parents to support their child’s growth through play, wherever they are. 
 
Jennifer shares her powerful story of navigating her son Shalom’s early diagnosis and how Special Olympics became a place of community, support, and strength for her whole family. This conversation is filled with practical advice, hope, and a reminder that none of us are alone in this journey. 
 
Whether you're a parent, educator, or someone who cares about inclusive communities, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. 
 
Download the Young Athletes App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/young-athletes/id1629555324 
 
Learn more at specialolympics.org 

Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!