STAR Games Gives Kids With Disabilities a Chance to be the Focus

For Cherry Hill West senior Chris Blandy, the chance to volunteer at the Specially Talented Athletes Recognized (STAR) Games comes with a personal connection.

Blandy’s mother works in the special education program in Paulsboro, and he’s grown up hearing about special needs kids getting mistreated or excluded because of their disabilities, and he said it just makes sense for him to give back as part of the daylong games at Jonas Morris Stadium.

“Everyone deserves to come out and have a good time, and that’s what the STAR Games is,” he said. “It’s just awesome.”

Kids from throughout the district—211 in all—skittered around the high school’s track, tossed foam javelins, leaped into the long jump pit and flung Frisbees from the discus circle as part of the games, which began last year as a way to include younger kids in activities similar to what’s seen annually at the Special Olympics, coordinator Hamisi Tarrant said.

“We wanted to have activities that were on their level, so we modified a lot of things, and here we go,” he said, gesturing to the flock of elementary school students around him. “Our mission here was to have children with intellectual and physical disabilities have a day where they are the focus. We wanted to do that through athletics…and at the same time promote high self-esteem and self-image.”

The entire event takes the bulk of a year to plan, involving teachers from throughout the district, as well as nurses, administrators and others.

About 60 West students volunteer for the day; some are already involved in the high school’s adaptive gym class, while others are student-athletes or leaders in other ways, Tarrant said.

“We actually had to turn away around 40 kids,” he said. “They’re excited about helping, which is great.”

For Blandy and others, getting the chance to be involved is a way of spreading the same excitement they feel—whether on the playing field or elsewhere.

“They do a great job in making us feel wanted and appreciated coming out here, and making sure kids get the same opportunities we do to come out and have a good time,” he said.