Special Needs Students Celebrated at Mansfield HS Special Olympics Rally

MANSFIELD, MA — Always a celebration, this pep rally was for some Mansfield athletes who were described as a group who couldn’t be more special or deserving of an event dedicated to them.

The Mansfield High School Special Olympics team received a tremendous display of support from the school Tuesday afternoon, with the student body, band, and chorus turning up to with the group luck in Thursday’s Attleboro School Day Games at Attleboro High School.

Kim Piro, who is known for founding iCare and bring autism awareness to Mansfield, was the main speaker and told the school of her own story about overcoming the obstacles she faced raising her daughter Jamie, who has a form of autism known as Pervasive Developmental Disorder.

Piro learned of her daughter’s condition when Jamie was 3 years old, forcing her to research everything related to autism and the obstacles ahead of her.

“I had to come to terms with her future not being what I thought it would be. Was I worried? Yes. Was I sad? No,” she said.

Attempts to shelter Jamie at home so she wouldn’t see the stares and looks of confusion only lasted so long. With another young daughter wanting to do the basic things young children like to do, Piro took Jamie along with them. Every moment her young daughter cried or had a tantrum because of noise became an opportunity for many to learn the effects of autism. That continued once Jamie entered school and was part of an inclusion class.

“The inclusion class wasn’t what I dreamed of when I volunteered. The kids needed helping understanding why she acted like she did. They needed to know what challenged she faces so they could emphasize and accept her. All I saw was fear and confusion and that wasn’t helping her,” Prio said.

That’s when she started iCare, knowing if those in the schools understood why some students needed extra help, they would become part of the help that was needed.

Years later, special needs awareness has taken leaps forward, as evident by the full gym in Mansfield High School.

“Look what we are witnessing today. An entire pep rally dedicated to those who couldn’t be more special or deserving,” Piro said.

As part of the ceremony, each competing athlete received their own varsity letter.

The Attleboro School Day Games is part of the Special Olympics and brings over 600 area students together to compete in track and field events.

Image Credit: Dan Libon