Special Olympics LUC is Re-establishing Itself

As the fall sports season kicks off across the United States, the Loyola chapter of Special Olympics is looking toward the future. 

Special Olympics LUC (SOLUC) was founded in 2024 by men’s soccer alumnus Aiden Crawford, with just five members to start, The Phoenix reported. With the help of faculty advisor and Associate Professor Olivia Stewart Lester, Crawford reached out to members of Loyola’s athletic programs, students and faculty as well as Misericordia Home, which already had an existing partnership with Loyola University Chicago — The Wolf Pack. 

The Wolf Pack, founded in 2006, is a program that offers on-campus employment to adults with developmental disabilities who live at Misericordia Home. Workers in the Wolfpack help take care of the campus buildings and grounds alongside chaperones. Crawford used Special Olympics LUC to help further the relationship between Misericordia and Loyola, starting weekly sports practices at Misericordia Home in 2025. 

SOLUC hosted Misericordia residents at Rambler basketball games, supported athletes at Special Olympics Illinois events and often visited Misericordia Home to help high-functioning residents develop and master basketball, track and field and bowling skills. By the end of 2025, SOLUC had grown to nearly 130 members and was named Outstanding New Organization of the Year at the Student Organization Awards. 

Prior to his graduation from Loyola in May 2026, Crawford was one of two students awarded the NCAA Walter Byers Graduate Scholarship, in part for his work with SOLUC, The Phoenix reported. He was inspired to start the chapter through his personal connection to disability justice. Crawford’s younger sister, Katia, has Down syndrome. 

“I had endless opportunities to pursue sports, and I got to pursue sports at one of the highest levels through the NCAA. There are so many people that don’t get that kind of opportunity,” Crawford said in an interview with the NCAA. “That is an injustice and inequity in our society. To provide opportunities, not just sporting opportunities, but just programming to other individuals with disabilities to pursue their passions, that’s just a basic human right that we owe each other.”

This year, SOLUC is working on re-establishing itself on campus. Recently, they hosted an Informational Welcome Session to greet new volunteers, introduce the newly-elected executive board and reconnect with the Loyola community. 

Fourth-year psychology and vocal music performance major Kayleigh Maher, president of SOLUC, said the first event of the year — a game night — was a step in the right direction to build up the program. 

“It started with a little background information, and then we just spent time getting to know one another,” Maher said. “This year we’re focused on solidifying our e-board and having a newsletter, established volunteer times, things like that. Hopefully the next board is able to use that foundation and grow it, hopefully volunteer on a statewide level with Special Olympics Illinois.”

The relationship between Chicago and the Special Olympics is a storied one, going back to the first International Special Olympics Summer Games, held at Soldier Field in 1968. According to their website, Special Olympics Illinois hosts more than 195 competitions each year for nearly 25,000 traditional and young athletes with intellectual disabilities, with the help of more than 15,000 coaches and volunteers. 

Currently, Maher is looking forward to continuing their work with Misericordia, but also expanding the SOLUC reach. 

“We’re excited to get that up and running again soon,” Maher said. “[At Misericordia], we help with their Special Olympics practices — helping to adapt a sport so it fits people of every need. We also get to help out with advocating for the needs of each player.” 

On a national level, the Special Olympics organization focuses a lot of effort on understanding the abilities and needs of Special Olympics athletes and how Special Olympics can aid in improving disability data to further health equity for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Maher said that, for her, advocacy is one of the most important parts of working with Special Olympics athletes.

“Athletes don’t usually get a say in the structure or practice of the sport, so it’s great being able to advocate for them and being able to figure out what’s needed to adapt the sport in the most inclusive way,” Maher said. “When I was growing up and involved in the Special Olympic program in school, we played a game called scooter basketball. We all sat on scooters, and it felt like the unified players and the kiddos in wheelchairs were all on an equal playing field.” 

Maher, like Crawford, has a personal connection to intellectual and developmental disability advocacy. 

“My brother has autism, that’s how I first found out about the Special Olympics,” Maher said. “I’m hoping that through these campus-wide initiatives, people who haven’t been exposed to people with disabilities are able to learn more and join the cause.” 

Through SOLUC, Maher said her eyes have been opened to more opportunities for inclusion, especially in everyday life — sometimes on Loyola’s campus. 

Maher said she takes it a step further than SOLUC and surveys Loyola’s campus, asking herself if a building is accessible, or if a space is friendly for someone with disabilities. 

“What if a building’s elevators are down?” Maher said. “That’s an inconvenience for me, but it’s a complete barrier for someone with mobility issues. A benefit of being a part of this organization is that I am so much more aware of my role in inclusion.”

Maher said she hopes the work done by SOLUC can help to build connections between people, especially with the isolation inherent to the digital age, advocating for true connection.

“If individuals have a shared passion through sports, if you can connect through movement and competition, create friendships, or even just have a nice moment together, that’s so valuable,” Maher said. “I think that’s something that we really need more than ever. We’re always on our phones, we’re always busy people. Having a shared passion and interest in Special Olympics helps grow a genuine human connection.”