SUBMITTED PHOTO Tonya West, 25, with her parents, Lee and Kathy West.
West volunteers at the Indianapolis Zoo when she isn’t attending programming at Easter Seals Crossroads or participating in Special Olympics. By Sherri Coner
Southsider Voice correspondent
When Tonya West competes in bowling or volleyball or any other sport she enjoys, her uniform matches those of other players and so does her good-natured attitude.
In fact, she fits in so well that she happily gets lost in the crowd. Those moments, when Tonya is relaxed and happy to fit in, are the times her parents, Lee and Kathy West, cherish most.
Days after her birth 25 years ago, West was diagnosed with a chromosome disorder called Down syndrome, which causes varying degrees of developmental delays, intellectually and physically. Medical conditions are also often associated with children and adults who have Down syndrome.
“I had lived such a sheltered life,” Kathy West said of her response to hearing about the diagnosis, which affects approximately one in 800 births.
“I had no idea what a person with Down syndrome even looked like,” she said. “My husband and I both cried.”
But early in their only daughter’s life, these Southside parents decided that West would be raised no differently than Daniel, her older brother.
Like her only sibling, West grew up in the mix of more than a dozen neighborhood kids. Early in her childhood she showed an interest and ability in sports.
As a middle school student in Perry Township, she was introduced to Special Olympics (soindiana.org). No one was surprised when this petite and highly competitive athlete could hardly wait to participate.
Just as quickly as West signed on, her parents became Special Olympics volunteers. While Lee participates as much as possible in fundraisers, Kathy serves as an officer and in many other volunteer roles.
The nonprofit program provides nearly 11,000 Hoosier athletes with fun opportunities to be physically active, social and competitive.
“Special Olympics gives athletes confidence, self-esteem and camaraderie,” West said. “All the athletes are very loving and supportive of each other.
The origin of Special Olympics dates back to the observant and compassionate heart of Eunice Shriver Kennedy. She noted that children and adults with special needs were often ostracized or ignored completely, especially in extracurricular and social activities.
Special Olympics made history in 1968 when excited athletes with special needs gathered at Soldier Field in Chicago. In the midst of the crowd, Shriver was there, smiling and warming up with participants in the program, which eventually went international.
To date, 250 athletes in Marion County show up for competition. But across the United States, nearly 4 million athletes with special needs compete in various sports, from basketball, soccer and volleyball to snowboarding, dancing and bowling.
Thankfully, parents, siblings and community volunteers make long-term commitments to support this beloved program and the positive experiences it provides for athletes with developmental delays.
As a country music fan who also enjoys dancing when she isn’t training for competition, West attends programming at Easter Seals Crossroads. Also an animal lover, she makes time to volunteer at the Indianapolis Zoo.
“Tonya has a lot of determination and a lot of spunk and spirit,” Kathy West said proudly. “She has taught us to see life in a different way. She has relaxed our life in a lot of ways. And she has taught us about patience and spontaneity. No two days are alike at our house.”
Southsider Voice correspondent
When Tonya West competes in bowling or volleyball or any other sport she enjoys, her uniform matches those of other players and so does her good-natured attitude.
In fact, she fits in so well that she happily gets lost in the crowd. Those moments, when Tonya is relaxed and happy to fit in, are the times her parents, Lee and Kathy West, cherish most.
Days after her birth 25 years ago, West was diagnosed with a chromosome disorder called Down syndrome, which causes varying degrees of developmental delays, intellectually and physically. Medical conditions are also often associated with children and adults who have Down syndrome.
“I had lived such a sheltered life,” Kathy West said of her response to hearing about the diagnosis, which affects approximately one in 800 births.
“I had no idea what a person with Down syndrome even looked like,” she said. “My husband and I both cried.”
But early in their only daughter’s life, these Southside parents decided that West would be raised no differently than Daniel, her older brother.
Like her only sibling, West grew up in the mix of more than a dozen neighborhood kids. Early in her childhood she showed an interest and ability in sports.
As a middle school student in Perry Township, she was introduced to Special Olympics (soindiana.org). No one was surprised when this petite and highly competitive athlete could hardly wait to participate.
Just as quickly as West signed on, her parents became Special Olympics volunteers. While Lee participates as much as possible in fundraisers, Kathy serves as an officer and in many other volunteer roles.
The nonprofit program provides nearly 11,000 Hoosier athletes with fun opportunities to be physically active, social and competitive.
“Special Olympics gives athletes confidence, self-esteem and camaraderie,” West said. “All the athletes are very loving and supportive of each other.
The origin of Special Olympics dates back to the observant and compassionate heart of Eunice Shriver Kennedy. She noted that children and adults with special needs were often ostracized or ignored completely, especially in extracurricular and social activities.
Special Olympics made history in 1968 when excited athletes with special needs gathered at Soldier Field in Chicago. In the midst of the crowd, Shriver was there, smiling and warming up with participants in the program, which eventually went international.
To date, 250 athletes in Marion County show up for competition. But across the United States, nearly 4 million athletes with special needs compete in various sports, from basketball, soccer and volleyball to snowboarding, dancing and bowling.
Thankfully, parents, siblings and community volunteers make long-term commitments to support this beloved program and the positive experiences it provides for athletes with developmental delays.
As a country music fan who also enjoys dancing when she isn’t training for competition, West attends programming at Easter Seals Crossroads. Also an animal lover, she makes time to volunteer at the Indianapolis Zoo.
“Tonya has a lot of determination and a lot of spunk and spirit,” Kathy West said proudly. “She has taught us to see life in a different way. She has relaxed our life in a lot of ways. And she has taught us about patience and spontaneity. No two days are alike at our house.”
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