TCU Unified Club has taken a special place in the heart of one athlete and his mother.
Danny Dial, a 31-year-old athlete with TCU Unified, and his mother, Sheri Dial. Danny was diagnosed with IDD (Intellectual Developmental Delays) and ADD (attention deficit disorder) when he was only two years old, attending Child Study in Fort Worth.
He attended Child Study Center until he turned three years, then moved on to public school. He was accepted into PPCD program (Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities) in North Crowley and attended at various locations throughout the district as the program progressed.
He later attended middle school and high school in North Crowley with most of the same students he was attending school with in elementary.
Danny was used to the routine and did well, graduating at 22 years old and participating in the Transitioning Program.
North Crowley and most other ISDs in the area offer extended education for their IDD students, and it helps them find their place in the community. Another program that helps IDD students find their voice and helps fill a necessary need in the community is Special Olympics. Danny had participated in Special Olympics throughout middle and high school. Then as an adult, Danny competed with Fort Worth Flames a team comprised of adults with IDD. The team met in Forest Hill; Danny then met some of the teammates he would have when TCU Unified Club.
In the first part of this series, we learned about the beginning of TCU Unified, but the impact of this club on families is something that is a Godsend. It has not only been a place where Danny spends his time. It is a place that Sheri has found her tribe.
Families travel together to the various Special Olympic events and see each other all the time, and even plan vacations together. The program has given the families and athletes so much more than just gathering.
During their time at Disney World, Danny was a dream come true. He was able to spend time with his teammates, something that would have been unheard of before. His mother Sheri enjoyed much needed respite, something that she really enjoyed. The Bronze medals that were placed on the Olympians will forever hang with pride and grace on the necks, a constant reminder of the time they spent with friends at the happiest place on earth.
Each one of the partners hold a special place in the heart of parents, family members, and athletes. Thomas, Kyle, Andrew, Charles, Bennett, and Will helped give the gift of independence to the TCU Unified athletes. They volunteered, and almost immediately after graduation for, Thomas and Charles, who were in their senior year at TCU, packed their bags and fulfilled their responsibility that kind of character is not something that cannot be taught.
TCU Unified will begin in Fall Semester and is always looking for new athletes.
Unified Programs Enables Athletes to:
Learn new sports.
Develop higher-level sports skills.
Have new competition experiences.
Experience meaningful inclusion as each athlete is ensured a valued role on the team.
Socialize with peers and form friendships as the program provides a forum for positive social interaction between teammates.
Participate in their communities. More than 3,000 athletes and partners currently participate in Unified programs in Texas in cooperation with schools, civic associations, Parks and Recreation departments, and other community sports organizations.
These partnerships help further include athletes in their community.
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