Aug 2012 | Suzanne Thompson, of Seneca, was named the chairwoman of the Special Olympics Illinois Board of Directors. She has been a member of the Special Olympics Illinois Board of Directors since February 2007, previously serving on the area management committee. As board chairwoman, she serves on all of the board's committees.
Thompson is a recently retired special education teacher with 38 years of service to children who are "differently abled." During this 38-year period, she taught students from preschool age through high school, with her last 26 years of teaching being done with junior high-age students at Saratoga School, District 60C, in Morris.
Thompson lives with her husband, David, and is the mother of three children, including Caitlin, 24, who is a Special Olympics athlete who competes in Special Olympics swimming, bowling and golf.
Thompson received her bachelor's degree in special education from Illinois State University, Normal, and her master's degree in administrative leadership from Aurora University.
Thompson is passionate about speaking on behalf of those with special needs at schools, organizations and churches. "Through these venues I have been diligent in attempting to change the hearts and minds of society about embracing differences, rather than excluding those whom the world calls different," she said. She spoke during closing ceremonies on behalf of families with athletes participating at the first Special Olympics National Games in Ames, Iowa, in 2006, in which her daughter was one of the athletes representing Illinois.
Her hobbies include collecting antiques and antique jewelry, reading, writing poetry, gardening, sign language, public speaking, and spending time with her three granddaughters.
Special Olympics Illinois is a nonprofit organization offering year-round training and competition in 19 sports for more than 21,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities and more than 11,000 young athletes ages 2 to 7 with and without intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics changes lives by empowering people with intellectual disabilities to realize their full potential in sports and in life. Special Olympics programs enhance physical fitness, motor skills, self-confidence, social skills and encourage family and community support.
If interested in learning more about Special Olympics Illinois, volunteering or providing financial support to help make Special Olympics programs possible, contact your local Special Olympics agency, call 800-394-0562 or visit the website www.soill.org.
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