Desert Oasis High School hosted a Special Olympics Basketball game on February 22, 2024. Dedica Talbot, 10, was inspired to organize the Special Olympics event after years of being involved in the “Best Buddies” program. With her mother being a special education teacher for over two decades, Dedica grew up with a deep appreciation for inclusivity and wanted to create an opportunity for students of all abilities to come together. The planning process took almost a month.
As the event was originally scheduled for December 2023, the event faced a few challenges and was pushed back to February.Despite the pushback, Talbot and her team managed to pull off the event!
“Some people couldn’t make it, and it wasn’t as well organized. So we thought February would be a better time, and basketball was over, so all the basketball girls would be free,” Talbot stated.
The event centered around a game of Basketball, a sport that Talbot believed would be both enjoyable and inclusive for everyone.“We’re gonna try and keep this going for as long as we can throughout different events, not just basketball,” Talbot said.
Talbot and her team are committed to ensuring the continuity of the Special Olympics at Desert Oasis High School.
“We’re just discussing it because eventually we’re hoping something will happen next year, and then obviously, we want it to continue for as long as the school exists.”
