As the summer season kicks off, The Arc of Story County begins softball, one of the sports in their Active LifeStyles program. Sitting down before practice with Delaney, one of the athletes, and her mom Lori, it’s clear this program is much more than a sport. It’s an opportunity for social connection, personal growth, and so much fun. The Arc defines this program as one that provides social and recreational events, encouraging persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities to become more involved with their peers and the community. In addition to recreation, they focus on quality of life, healthy eating, kitchen safety/cooking, and social connections. This encourages healthy living choices while incorporating community involvement for participants.
Before connecting with The Arc, Delaney was spending most of her time at home “not really doing anything,” she says. It wasn’t clear what there was to do after High School, so it was easy to become isolated. Personally, Delaney felt she could have been more active.
The Arc is special not only to her, but the entire family as well. She first heard of the program because her older brother was a participant on their basketball team. She would go to their games and see the positive experience he was having. At the time, there weren’t enough people on the team, so The Arc asked Lori, Delaney’s mom, if she’d be interested in participating. Delaney’s answer was a strong no. “I can’t do anything in front of people,” she told her mom. However, they were also looking for coaches, and her sister happened to be interested in volunteering. Delaney said she would do it if her sister were there, and with that agreement in place, she joined the team. After that first season, there was no looking back. Delaney was in love with the program.
While she enjoyed the basketball team, Delaney’s favorite sport is track. Most notably being able to run in the Drake Relays. This year was her 4th year competing, and she runs the 1500-meter race. “It was challenging, but also exciting because I improved each year when I ran,” Delaney said. Joining The Arc gave her the ability to just try. Delaney now believes, “I am able to do this!”
“She was so timid,” Lori joins in on the conversation to talk about how this program has made a change. “The self-esteem wasn’t there. Growing up in a school system where you’re not exposed to all the stuff that the other kids are doing all the time. And so, to do the things she’s doing, The Arc gave her that self-confidence, the ability to even just try, because before, she just was like, ‘Oh, I can’t do it’. But even just starting basketball that one year, she has grown exponentially”.
UWSC invests in 6 programs offered by The Arc because they are making a real difference in the lives of our neighbors. Bu prioritizing making meaningful connections and fostering a sense of community, The Arc aligns with UWSC’s pillar of Collective Well-Being by supporting both basic needs and mental health. Beyond sports, Delaney says that this program has also helped her socially. Her and Lori note that in previous rec leagues, she wouldn’t want to participate due to feeling uncomfortable. “But here, she’s not uncomfortable,” Lori says and Delaney nods in agreement as her fellow athletes begin to show up for practice.
She thanks donors and volunteers for making the program possible, and for supporting her. In the future, Delaney is excited to use the skills she’s been developing in the program. The first order of business is to win districts and state with her softball team. Then, she hopes to run races with her family, and sustain long-term social relationships with her friends at The Arc.