Statement of Support
We, as leaders gathered in Shanghai on the occasion of the Special
Olympics World Summer Games, and, with recognition of the dignity of people
with intellectual disabilities and the challenges they and their families
face around the world,
Acknowledge the hospitality of the People’s Republic of China,
which has committed time, venues, and resources to stage the 2007 Special
Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China. These Games, the world’s
largest sporting event in 2007, highlight the progress achieved in providing
meaningful social and developmental opportunities to people with
intellectual disabilities and join people with and without intellectual
disabilities in the universal spirit of sport;
Commend the People’s Republic of China for its leadership in
expanding Special Olympics and thereby enabling more athletes with
intellectual disabilities, their families and communities across China to be
a part of the Special Olympics movement;
Affirm our shared belief that any society aspiring to be just must
value the ideas, skills and contributions of all of its members, including
people with intellectual disabilities;
Commit to understand, respect and value all individuals, to
improve attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities and to create
real opportunities for and with them in friendship, education, employment,
self advocacy, health care, and sports participation;
Acknowledge the need to develop and strengthen services and
supports for people with intellectual disabilities and their families.
Therefore, we declare our intention to strengthen such services and
supports in our respective fields and across communities and societies
around the world, by:
Promoting the goals of the Special Olympics movement to empower
athletes, engage family members and provide greater opportunities for people
with intellectual disabilities to train and compete in sport;
Educating the public, especially young people, about intellectual
disabilities through awareness campaigns and other initiatives that change
attitudes and promote inclusion;
Expanding health services, inclusive education, family support
services, and employment opportunities for people with intellectual
disabilities;
Strengthening research in the field of intellectual disability,
including needs and opportunities in the areas of health care, education,
employment, and participation in family and community life;
Committing to participate in and contribute to a Global Working
Group on Intellectual Disabilities that will be coordinated by Special
Olympics and will issue reports with recommended actions based, in part, on
the discussions and information shared at this Global Policy Summit.
Pledging to assess progress on the declared goals outlined above,
as well as any recommendations put forth by the Working Group, on the
occasion of the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Idaho.
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