Forms Annual Registration Forms Sign up to participate in Special Connections programs/ activities/ transportation. New Participant Returning Participant Participant Code of Conduct To establish a standard for participant behavior that will ensure the safety and well being of all involved. Athlete Consent Form Valid consent form is mandatory for all Special Olympics athletes. Athlete Medical Form Valid medical form is mandatory for all Special Olympics athletes Out of gallery

Learn more about the Special Connections Programs - Basketball, Boccee, Bowling and more! Fitness Class Our fitness class provides participants the opportunity to develop and build balance, coordination, strength and endurance through stretching, movement and resistance training. Activities are adapted to meet the individual needs of each student. Daily fitness and healthy life choices are also discussed and encouraged. The class meets once a week throughout the year. Program Gallery < Previous Program Next Program >

Learn more about the Special Connections Programs - Basketball, Boccee, Bowling and more! Community Activities It is vital for our participants to be involved in their community. Watch here for details about programs and activities available to people with special needs in our community, outside of Special Connections. The Forte Arts Center Magical Moments dance class is dedicated to bringing an outstanding experience in the art of dance to the Special Needs Community in the area. This program is unique in offering classes that are specifically designed with their students with special needs in mind. Dance boosts memory, improves flexibility, reduces stress, strengthens your heart, improves balance, increases energy and builds confidence. They offer a class that is fun, upbeat and positive. Visit the Forte Arts Center website for class details and registration information. http://forteartscenter.com/programming-dance-classes.html Program Gallery < Previous Program Next Program >

Learn more about the Special Connections Programs - Basketball, Boccee, Bowling and more! Special Olympics Golf Individual Skills Golf - Athletes learn and practice all the shots required to play on the course- wood, iron, pitch, chip, and sand shots, as well as putting. In competition, they are required to perform all the shots listed and are awarded points based on their ability to do so. Athletes practice once a week in May-early July to prepare for the regional competition. Gold medal winners in the regional competition advance to the State Special Olympics Illinois Outdoor Sports Festival in September and continue with practices until the state competition. 3 and 6 Hole Golf- Golfers may play 3 or 6 holes for competition. In hole play, shot making, etiquette and the rules of golf are emphasized. Practice consists of playing the course and working at the driving range and practice putting green. Athletes practice once a week, from May-early August to prepare for the regional competition. Gold medal winners in the regional competition advance to the State Special Olympics Illinois Outdoor Sports Festival in September and continue with practices until the state competition. 9 Hole Unified Golf- In 9-hole unified golf, a Special Olympics athlete and a peer without disabilities play together as a team for competition. Each golfer plays 9 holes and keeps their own score. At the end of the round, the scores are combined for a final unified score. With their partners as a guide, athletes learn etiquette, club selection, shot making, scoring and the rules of golf. Unified golfers practice once a week from May-early July at the driving range and putting green or on the course. Golfers are also expected to play the course with their unified partner outside of practice time for additional work. Gold medal winners in the regional competition advance to the State Special Olympics Illinois Outdoor Sports Festival in September and continue with practices until the state competition. Program Gallery < Previous Program Next Program >

Upcoming Events Multiple Dates Welcoming 2026 Fun Bowls Tue, Jan 20 Echo Lanes More info RSVP Winter Warm and Cozy Pajama Dance! Fri, Jan 23 Fraternal Order of Eagles (FOE) More info RSVP Past Events Wed, Dec 17 HOLIDAY FUN BOWL! / Echo Lanes Details Dec 17, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM Echo Lanes, 220 Bedford Rd, Morris, IL 60450, USA We have a SPECIAL guest coming! AND treats! +16 more Wed, Dec 10 Holiday Crafts, Games and FUN! / Morris Public Library Details Dec 10, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM Morris Public Library, 604 Liberty St, Morris, IL 60450, USA Join the fun at this new event! +6 more Tue, Dec 09 SO Young Athletes Basketball Skills Session 2 registration / registration Details Dec 09, 2025, 3:00 PM – Dec 23, 2025, 11:59 PM registration Register for Special Olympics Young Athletes Basketball Skills Session 2 See All Wed, Dec 03 December Fun Bowl! / Echo Lanes Details Dec 03, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM Echo Lanes, 220 Bedford Rd, Morris, IL 60450, USA Hey! Come ROLL with your FRIENDS! +13 more Multiple Dates Sat, Nov 22 November dates for Athletes/Guardians/Coaches COE set up and SC file review / Morris Technology & Business Center Details Nov 22, 2025, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM Morris Technology & Business Center, 1802 N Division St #507, Morris, IL 60450, USA Tina will help get you set up on the SO Center Of Excellence online portal and review your SC file. See All Fri, Nov 14 3rd Annual Life is a Gift Dinner and Dance / VFW Hall Details Nov 14, 2025, 6:30 PM VFW Hall, 309 McKinley St, Morris, IL 60450, USA It is time to CELEBRATE...our participants, our Special Olympic Athletes and Coaches and ALL the people who love them! +58 more Multiple Dates Wed, Nov 05 Fall Fun Bowls 2025 / Echo Lanes Details Nov 05, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM Echo Lanes, 220 Bedford Rd, Morris, IL 60450, USA Time to ROLL your ball into Fall! This is where we roll with our friends! +3 more Multiple Dates Wed, Oct 29 October dates for Athletes/Guardians/Coaches COE set up and SC file review / Morris Technology & Business Center Details Oct 29, 2025, 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM Morris Technology & Business Center, 1802 N Division St #507, Morris, IL 60450, USA Tina will help get you set up on the SO Center Of Excellence online portal and review your SC file. See All Sat, Oct 25 "FANGS FOR THE MEMORIES" Halloween Bash / Cardinal Transport Details Oct 25, 2025, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM Cardinal Transport, 7180 E Reed Rd, Coal City, IL 60416, USA A Spooktacular Time Awaits! +42 more Sat, Oct 18 Watercolor Painting Class / We Care of Grundy County Details Oct 18, 2025, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM We Care of Grundy County, 530 Bedford Rd, Morris, IL 60450, USA Back by Popular Demand! Let's relax and have fun learning watercolor painting techniques! NEW DATE! +3 more Tue, Oct 07 2025-26 Special Olympics Swim Team registration / Registration Details Oct 07, 2025, 7:00 PM – Oct 28, 2025, 11:59 PM Registration Register for Special Olympics Swim Team! +2 more Fri, Oct 03 SO Basketball Skills & Young Athletes registration / registration Details Oct 03, 2025, 5:00 PM – Oct 20, 2025, 11:59 PM registration Register for Special Olympics Basketball Skills & Young Athletes Basketball Skills +3 more Thu, Oct 02 October dates for Athletes/Guardians/Coaches COE set up and SC file review / Morris Technology & Business Center Details Oct 02, 2025, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM Morris Technology & Business Center, 1802 N Division St #507, Morris, IL 60450, USA Tina will help get you set up on the SO Center Of Excellence online portal and review your SC file. See All Sun, Sep 28 Corn Festival Parade 2025 / Location is TBD Details Sep 28, 2025, 1:15 PM – 3:30 PM Location is TBD Join us to walk or ride the bus in the parade! +10 more Fri, Sep 26 Grundy County Corn Festival Sensory Carnival Night!!! / City of Morris Stratton Park Details Sep 26, 2025, 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM City of Morris Stratton Park, Morris, IL 60450, USA It is back...free event! +10 more Mon, Sep 22 2025 SO Team Basketball Tryouts / Morris Details Sep 22, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM Morris, 725 School St, Morris, IL 60450, USA Tryouts for our 2025-26 Special Connections Gladiators Team Basketball +2 more Multiple Dates Thu, Sep 18 September dates for Athletes/Guardians/Coaches COE set up and SC file review / Morris Technology & Business Center Details Sep 18, 2025, 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM Morris Technology & Business Center, 1802 N Division St #507, Morris, IL 60450, USA Tina will help get you set up on the SO Center Of Excellence online portal and review your SC file. Multiple Dates Fri, Aug 29 SO Bowling Athletes/Guardians/Coaches COE set up and SC file review / Morris Technology & Business Center Details Aug 29, 2025, 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM Morris Technology & Business Center, 1802 N Division St #507, Morris, IL 60450, USA Tina will help get you set up on the SO Center Of Excellence online portal and review your SC file. See All Load More

Meet the Special Connections Board of Directors! Valerie Frazier BOARD MEMBER I am a wife and mother of 3 girls. I have been a hair dresser for 32 years and still practice. I am a personal trainer and am very passionate about how food, nutrition and exercise can change one's life. I have a 23 year old who is differently abled, and changing her lifestyle was life changing for our whole family. Special Connections has helped to give me the opportunity to serve those in our community who are differently abled by letting me share my love of a healthy lifestyle and fitness training! I am so blessed to be a part of Special Connections and to help promote our mission in the community!

Learn more about the Special Connections Programs - Basketball, Boccee, Bowling and more! Special Olympics Snowshoe Athletes may compete in 2 individual race events and 1 relay event for snowshoe, a winter equivalent to track. Athletes practice once a week from October through the regional competition in December. Gold medal winners advance to the Special Olympics Illinois State Winter Games in February and practices continue to prepare for the state competition. Program Gallery < Previous Program Next Program >

Meet the Special Connections Board of Directors! Kelly Thompson BOARD MEMBER As a founding member, former Executive Director and current Board member for Special Connections, Kelly is passionate about our Mission and providing individuals with special needs opportunities to engage in social, leisure and recreation activities in their community. Kelly is currently a teacher with the Grundy County Special Education Cooperative at Minooka Junior High School and has worked with individuals with special needs for more than 30 years. "I have witnessed the growth of the individuals served and Special Connections over the years and am excited to see what the future will bring." In her free time Kelly enjoys any time spent with family, sports and traveling.

All contributions to Special Connections will be gratefully acknowledged and are tax-deductible. The mission of Special Connections of Grundy County is to connect people with disabilities to their community through social interactions, education, recreational opportunities and shared information. We promote an environment of inclusion, self-determination and knowledge. All contributions to Special Connections will be gratefully acknowledged and are tax-deductible. We Need YOUR Support

Meet the Special Connections Board of Directors! Heidi Prewitt PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD Heidi is excited to serve on the board of Special Connections! She is a tenured Risk Management and Insurance professional, with special focus on Non Profit Social Service organizations. She currently works as a Territory Manager for a national insurance carrier, in their Specialty Care division. In her career, she has worked with organizations throughout the US, whose missions are all focused on human and social services. She is a former Aquatics coach for the local area, and has had the privilege of celebrating many milestones with the team—some her most cherished memories. Heidi is married to Paul, and they reside in the area with their super dog, Bean. The trio enjoys traveling—especially for west coast sunsets!

Get Involved Special Connections of Grundy County recruits volunteers through local schools, civic organizations, clubs, churches, and the community. Regardless of where our volunteers come from or why they volunteer, each volunteer will leave with an experience that will enrich both their lives and the lives of their participants. What are the benefits of volunteering with Special Connections? When you volunteer with Special Connections, you are getting a valuable work experience, as well as gaining exposure to a fun and exciting diverse group of individuals. The biggest benefit is that you will have improved the quality of life for someone else, if even for an hour. And we hope that you learn something about yourself that you can use in other aspects of life. Contact us today! Get In Touch Special Connections of Grundy County PO Box 289 Morris, IL 60450 Tel: (815) 230-1877 info@specialconnections.org Submit Thanks for submitting!