First-ever Special Olympics athlete-led panel convened at United Nations

On Monday, June 10thSpecial Olympics International, in partnership with the United Nations (UN) Division for Inclusive Social Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the United Nations hosted a panel discussion at the United Nations in conjunction with the 12th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Meet the six Special Olympics athlete leaders (pictured below) from Zimbabwe, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Florida, Missouri and California who led a panel discussion promoting the need for inclusive policies and programs for people with intellectual disabilities (ID).

Ambassador Luis Gallegos, Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the United Nations gave opening remarks, with Mr. Dustin Plunkett, Special Olympics Athlete and Manager of Outreach and Athlete Leadership, Special Olympics Southern California moderating the panel.