More than 150 student-athletes took part in Cleveland State University’s Special Olympics Spring 2026 Basketball Event on March 27 at Woodling Gym. Volunteers led inclusive activities designed to promote fitness, teamwork and social connection.
 

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The event was part of an ongoing partnership between Cleveland State and Special Olympics that aims to create a variety of opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, while preparing students for the future 2030 Special Olympics USA Games, which Cleveland is hosting. 

“We do a lot of volunteer work with the Special Olympics because it gives us a chance for them to participate in physical fitness and all the same healthy activities,” said Jodi DeMarco, clinical associate professor and chair of the Department of Health Science and Human Performance at CSU. 

Participants rotated through 11 activity stations throughout the event, including yoga, defensive shuffle drills, passing lines, dribbling relays, pivoting, free throws and layups. Volleyball activities such as serving, passing circles and spikes followed, along with arts and crafts and other recreational options. 

One station focused on inclusive yoga, where athletes of all abilities – including those using wheelchairs – followed guided poses using instructional cards. Volunteers demonstrated movements, assisted participants and encouraged relaxation and focus. 

Athletes who needed a break could visit a sensory room featuring The Zones of Regulation curriculum, which helps individuals identify and manage emotions ranging from calm and focused to overwhelmed and frustrated. Outside of the gym, students also participated in bean bag toss, mini golf and board games, offering additional opportunities for engagement in a less structured environment.
 

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Event organizer and occupational therapist Ashley Browske said approximately 150 volunteers supported the event. She says she invented the volunteer training to ensure participants are prepared to work effectively with athletes and provide a positive experience. 

“It is very important that they get a lot of good socialization from other students," said Ariana Moran, an intervention specialist at Albert Einstein Academy for Letters and Sciences. “They really take what they learn from here and include that as they go back into their own classrooms.” 

Volunteers also emphasized the personal impact of the experience. 

“I like communicating with all kinds of people,” said Max Elliot, who has also volunteered with the YMCA and worked with the Best Buddies Program. 

Another volunteer, Katie Ingleragat, highlighted CSU’s culture of service. 

“I’ve volunteered here plenty of times, even at Giving Day,” she said, referencing the university’s annual fundraising initiative that raised more than $900,000 earlier this year.
 

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The event reflects a broader mission of the Special Olympics, a global organization founded in 1968, that promotes inclusion through sports and serves millions of athletes worldwide. Cleveland was awarded the 2030 Special Olympics USA Games in September 2025, a milestone expected to bring thousands of athletes, coaches and visitors to the city. 

Demarco said CSU is currently planning to expand its involvement by launching a Special Olympics student organization, potentially as early as fall 2026, to increase participation and awareness on campus. Cleveland State and its partners plan to continue hosting similar events twice a year, with expanded programming and student involvement expected as the city prepares to host the 2030 Special Olympics USA Games