March 30, 2019 at 09:01AM
Sophie Stern, 15, is a cheerleader with Special Olympics. (Photo: Courtesy of Amy Silverman)
Sophie Stern is a cheerleader for Special Olympics on a squad that is a mix of people with disabilities and without.
She loves her coach, the routines and the uniforms. She's participated in Special Olympics since she was 8, running track, throwing the javelin and swimming. She started cheer at 9.
"It is cool to be a part of Special Olympics," Sophie said.
It's cool, too, she said, that proposed cuts to federal funding for Special Olympics were called off Thursday by President Donald Trump, undercutting Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and a budget proposal he signed.
Special Olympics gives people with intellectual disabilities a chance to compete in a variety of events.
Sophie is 15 now and helps coach cheer. "I like Special Olympics because it's a good opportunity to help other people," she said.
I'm friends with Sophie's parents and have known her since she was 3.
Sophie has Down syndrome, a genetic condition with varying symptoms including some level of lifelong intellectual disabilities and developmental delays.
There is a whole lot Sophie wasn't supposed to be able to do. But no one told her.
Sophie Stern picking out her pre-pointe shoes for ballet. (Photo: Courtesy of Amy Silverman)
Sophie takes ballet at Dance Theater West and dances onstage. She acts with Detour Company Theatre, a theater group for people with development disabilities.
At her high school, Sophie attends general-education classes, getting an A in chemistry and Bs in geometry and English.
But while she is mainstreamed, there are things she can't do. Make friends easily. Make the cheer squad.
In middle school, Sophie was a cheerleader for three years. She tried out for cheer in high school, but Sophie didn't make the squad.
"I felt bad," she said. That's typical, a normal part of being a teenager.
So she cheers for Special Olympics. "It makes me feel good," she said.
She has a place to belong.
On March 26, Sophie Stern, 15, pictured here with former Arizona Congressman Harry Mitchell and Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell, received the Tempe Mayor's Disability Award for Outstanding High School Student for her dancing, acting and volunteer work with Special Olympics. (Photo: Courtesy of Amy Silverman)
For more Karina Bland, subscribe to her newsletter. Reach Bland at karina.bland@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter @KarinaBland.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/karinabland/2019/03/29/teen-special-olympics-cheerleader-more-than-one-way-donald-trump-karina-bland-betsy-devos/3314442002/
Sophie Stern, 15, is a cheerleader with Special Olympics. (Photo: Courtesy of Amy Silverman)
Sophie Stern is a cheerleader for Special Olympics on a squad that is a mix of people with disabilities and without.
She loves her coach, the routines and the uniforms. She's participated in Special Olympics since she was 8, running track, throwing the javelin and swimming. She started cheer at 9.
"It is cool to be a part of Special Olympics," Sophie said.
It's cool, too, she said, that proposed cuts to federal funding for Special Olympics were called off Thursday by President Donald Trump, undercutting Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and a budget proposal he signed.
Special Olympics gives people with intellectual disabilities a chance to compete in a variety of events.
Sophie is 15 now and helps coach cheer. "I like Special Olympics because it's a good opportunity to help other people," she said.
I'm friends with Sophie's parents and have known her since she was 3.
Sophie has Down syndrome, a genetic condition with varying symptoms including some level of lifelong intellectual disabilities and developmental delays.
There is a whole lot Sophie wasn't supposed to be able to do. But no one told her.
Sophie Stern picking out her pre-pointe shoes for ballet. (Photo: Courtesy of Amy Silverman)
Sophie takes ballet at Dance Theater West and dances onstage. She acts with Detour Company Theatre, a theater group for people with development disabilities.
At her high school, Sophie attends general-education classes, getting an A in chemistry and Bs in geometry and English.
But while she is mainstreamed, there are things she can't do. Make friends easily. Make the cheer squad.
In middle school, Sophie was a cheerleader for three years. She tried out for cheer in high school, but Sophie didn't make the squad.
"I felt bad," she said. That's typical, a normal part of being a teenager.
So she cheers for Special Olympics. "It makes me feel good," she said.
She has a place to belong.
On March 26, Sophie Stern, 15, pictured here with former Arizona Congressman Harry Mitchell and Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell, received the Tempe Mayor's Disability Award for Outstanding High School Student for her dancing, acting and volunteer work with Special Olympics. (Photo: Courtesy of Amy Silverman)
For more Karina Bland, subscribe to her newsletter. Reach Bland at karina.bland@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter @KarinaBland.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/karinabland/2019/03/29/teen-special-olympics-cheerleader-more-than-one-way-donald-trump-karina-bland-betsy-devos/3314442002/
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