40+ years at Special Olympics: My Inside Perspective
Pictured: Special Olympics participant
Photo Credit: Special Olympics
By Renee Dease
Hi, my name is Renee Dease. I have worked at the headquarters of Special Olympics since 1978. I was the very first receptionist that the Special Olympics office ever had. I have filled many roles during my time at Special Olympics and have had the opportunity to see Special Olympics change and grow into the organization it is today. As a young adult, I had depression and attended the District of Columbia Occupational Training Center and trained for two years to be an administrative assistant. I was an assistant coach for athletics and a spokesperson for Special Olympics DC. I helped athletes write speeches for events and MC for the annual Athlete of the Year ceremonies. I was a board member of Special Olympics DC before working at Special Olympics International Headquarters.
I interviewed Mrs. Eunice Shriver Kennedy Shriver and got the job, and the rest is history. When I first met Mrs. Shriver, I thought she was very kind. I was so excited to be working with her. Her brother, former US President John F. Kennedy had passed so many bills to help people with intellectual disabilities. And she had so much energy and cared so much for people. I admire how she saw that sport and recreation promoted confidence in people with Intellectual Disabilities. She would have Special Olympics athletes come to her house to swim in her swimming pool and participate in various sports and activities. Today we know this wonderful experience as ‘Camp Shriver.”
“Working at Special Olympics and the Kennedy Foundation was much different 40 years ago. The floor we worked on was only four offices large with only 15 people. Staff would always run down the hall in a hurry and yell across the hallway to each other to get everything done.”
Currently, I am Senior Coordinator of the Special Olympics health department, Healthy Athletes, which I’ve worked in since its start in 1997. In this position, I assist discipline managers in supporting Healthy Athletes events, interview Special Olympics athletes from around the world about their health, wellness, and leadership activities. My work focuses on athlete leadership and amplifying the health stories of Special Olympics athletes and global interviews. I have a record of more than 25 years of athlete interviews and stories.I also manage a monthly newsletter called Renee’s Roundup Health Newsletter, which assures better communication of important updates and events among the larger health team.
Pictured: Renee and Mrs. Shriver
In July of 2018, Special Olympics started a year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first Special Olympics Games in Chicago, Illinois. I was proud to attend and see how Mrs. Shriver’s legacy is being carried on. In 50 years, Special Olympics athletes have more opportunities to be leaders in the Movement. I saw athletes, families, and everyone in the movement come together supporting each other and learning more about Special Olympics. I’m proud of unified sports—it’s amazing. I love that people with disabilities play sports with people who don’t have disabilities. This gives everyone a chance to work on the same team and to share equality.
Pictured: Renee with her daughter, Bridget
In my 40 plus years at Special Olympics, much has changed. I went to college and received an associate degree in liberal studies. My lifelong career dream is to use my writing and communication skills to educate people all around the world about Special Olympics and teach them what motivation, determination, and courage people with intellectual disabilities have. In my spare time, I’m fond of creative writing, poetry, and attending the theater. I have a beautiful daughter, Bridget, who is working on a master’s degree from American University in Washington, D.C.
The Special Olympics office has grown from 15 people to more than 200 in offices around the world. I learned how to use a computer and don’t need to holler down the hallway for people anymore. But what hasn’t changed is that people with intellectual disabilities still don’t have the same rights and benefits as people without disabilities. I’m retiring from my job of 43 years at Special Olympics and I’ll continue my work with Special Olympics and Human Rights to ensure that the world will be more accepting of people with disabilities in the future.