Empowering tamariki with intellectual disabilities and/or autism (aged 2-12), to learn, connect, and thrive through play.
Our Young Athlete Programmes help children develop the confidence and fundamental movement skills they need for an active life. Through games and activities, tamariki practice essential skills like walking, running, balancing, jumping, throwing, catching, kicking, and striking — all while having fun, connecting with others, and being celebrated in a supportive community.
Our Philosophy
We believe that every child, regardless of ability, deserves opportunities to play, belong, achieve, and discover the joy of movement. Our programmes are grounded in a few simple but powerful beliefs:
Play is powerful
When children play, learning, laughter, and connection come naturally. Our programmes bring this to life through fun, game-based experiences.
Shared moments create stronger relationships
Engaging in play together gives families, teachers, and children the chance to be in the moment, enjoy one another's company, and see different sides of each other.
Every child has unique strengths
We celebrate the many ways children move, think, see, and communicate, creating programmes that adapt to their needs and follow their lead.
Challenge is a chance to shine
We support tamariki to try new things — stretching their comfort zones while keeping experiences safe and achievable.
Movement grows more than muscles
Movement is more than sport. It's a path to physical, emotional, social, and spiritual growth. We help build life skills, confidence, and independence through play.
Young Athlete Stories
Yohanan’s Story
“There are lots of fun things to do! It’s super-duper cool. There are obstacle courses, kicking, striking & my favourite - parachutes!”
From a young age, Yohanan didn't want to go to play centres or playgrounds while other kids were playing. He would sit and watch the other children play but insisted on waiting for everyone to leave for his turn to use the equipment. His parents noticed his development begin to lag behind children of his same age group.
Having joined the Young Athlete's Programme, Yohanan now feels relaxed at the sessions and has even begun a routine of helping Rachel set up the equipment for the activities. At home he has set up his own obstacle courses to practice the skills introduced in the programme! He listens, observes, picks up new skills quickly, and plays more with others.
Mum and Dad’s Story
"As a family, we have benefited greatly from our weekly athletics sessions. It is the highlight of our week to get together with the other families as our little athletes play and learn alongside one another. It is an incredible feeling to look around the room at the many other faces and feel like we all have a place where we are warmly welcomed and belong because everyone is included.
It is hard to find others who understand the difficulties and differences we experience daily as parents of an autistic child. However, from our first term with Special Olympics, we felt a sense of belonging and support from Rachel and the other parents.
I was aware of the amazing things that the Special Olympics provided adult athletes, but I didn't know about the children's programme. Honestly, we wish we had heard of their youth programme much sooner! We are truly grateful to have this opportunity and hope it grows to impact many other families in our community as well."
Young Athlete Programmes
We work across a variety of settings to reach tamariki with intellectual disabilities and/or autism. This includes in-school programmes, community initiatives delivered by Special Olympics New Zealand, and activities run by partner organisations.
Young Athletes at Home
Parents play a key role in helping children develop confidence, independence, and a love of movement. By bringing play and skill-building into everyday life, families can support their child's wellbeing and reinforce the skills learned in structured programmes.
Discover activity ideas and tips to support your young athlete at home here.
Young Athletes at School
Our In-School Programme is currently in a period of exciting change. Traditionally, this programme has been delivered as an 8-week series of 45-minute sessions led by Special Olympics staff. These sessions have brought together students of different ages and abilities with intellectual disabilities and/or autism to develop fundamental movement skills alongside their peers.
From 2026, we will be piloting a school-led approach. Participating schools will receive a comprehensive suite of curriculum-aligned resources — including session plans, activity cards, and visual aids — to deliver inclusive weekly PE sessions.
For more information about our in-school resources, visit our Teachers Hub.
Young Athletes in the Community
There are a number of community programmes available for young people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism, delivered by Special Olympics New Zealand or partner organisations across Aotearoa.
Explore our Young Athletes in the Community page to find opportunities near you.
Get in touch
If you’d like to learn more about the Young Athletes Programme, we’d love to hear from you!
Rachel Goodin, Young Athletes Programme Lead
Email: yaplead@specialolympics.org.nz
Phone: 0274248999
