The Power of Adaptive Sports at the Hawaii Special Olympics

Adaptive sports are transforming lives—offering individuals with disabilities a chance to thrive, grow, and compete. For Carter Sanders, a graduate of Easterseals Academy and employee at HB Threads, adaptive sports have been life-changing. His recent experience competing at the Hawaii Special Olympics is a powerful example of inclusion, empowerment, and pride.

Competing with Purpose: Carter’s Journey

In November 2023, Carter traveled with his Special Olympics team to Hawaii to compete in a series of adaptive athletic events. As an athlete with a disability, Carter found not only competition and excitement, but also confidence, community, and independence through the structure and spirit of adaptive sports.

He kept a personal journal of the trip—documenting his training, events, and reflections—which captured the full impact of the experience.

The journal captures moments of triumph and perseverance, including Carter’s favorite events, his feelings before races, and the support he receives from coaches and fellow athletes. It serves as both a personal diary and an inspiration to others pursuing their own goals.

Day 1: 10-Hour Flight

We had to be at the airport at five o’clock in the morning because you know how it gets crazy at the airport! Our flight left at 9: 45 AM and it was almost 10 hours long. We landed at 3 PM Hawaii time, which is 7 PM Chicago time. It was pretty much a low-key day because of all the travel and we generally just chilled.

Day 2: Swimming & Snorkeling

We had breakfast at the hotel. I ordered a bacon, egg, and cheese omelet. After that, we practiced bocce at the nearby park, and then we took a dip in the hotel pool. The weather was so nice, at least 79 degrees. We got dressed and had pizza for lunch. Then, we went on a boat excursion in the Pacific Ocean! I went swimming and snorkeling. It was scary at first, but it wasn’t so bad. I got to see fish and marine life. It was like something you see in the pictures of a book! We also slid down a waterslide and went kayaking. We went to dinner at a famous place called the Rainbow Drive Inn.

Day 3: A 9-hour Sightseeing Tour

Today we had a grab-and-go breakfast because we had to be at a tour bus at 7 AM for a 9-hour bus tour. We had numerous stops to sightsee, like we went to the Dole Pineapple Factory and has some pineapple ice cream. We passed by Jackie Chan’s house. You know the martial artist? And we passed by where The Rock went to high school, the actor and wrestler. We also saw Bruno Mars’ high school. And then we went back, we saw the sunset at the beach, and we went to Cheesecake Factory for dinner.

Day 4: Pearl Harbor

We had a busy day. We went to Pearl Harbor. It was basically treated like a sacred place, like how monks treat temples. No lollygagging, phone calls, giggling, texting, or posting on social media. It was serious. And it was to be treated like it was someone’s funeral. We saw a 23-minute documentary, which was the synopsis of Pearl Harbor. Believe it or not, Pearl Harbor happened before Hawaii became the 50th state! Then, we went back and had a picnic lunch at the park. After that, we practiced Bocci for the competition the next day. For dinner, we went to this place called Tikis. It was a buffet and we celebrated the birthdays of three people on our trip.

Day 5: The Bocce Competition and a Big Win

We went to the Naval Base for the bocce competition. We were there from 8 AM until 9:30 PM! My coach, Vanessa, who was on vacation, on a personal vacation, she surprised me and my other teammates out of the blue! And I ended up winning the silver medal in bocce! We watched other sports at the Special Olympics Hawaii Holiday Classic, like basketball, and we made friends with nice girl named Amber. We had dinner, opening ceremonies, and a dance. We danced the night away until it was time to go back!

Day 6: A Lūʻau

Today was the least busiest of the days. We went to breakfast at the marketplace, ordered scrambled eggs. Then, we went to the beach. I went in the ocean and someone was hoisting me up. We were there for about two hours. I spent 90 percent of the time in the water! I got salt water in my mouth. That night, we had a lūʻau. There was talk about the culture and the dances. And then we played some games, like throwing a javelin into the wall and throwing the discus. It was a little hard and complicated. We had Hawaiian food for dinner and danced a lot!

Day 7: Time to Go Home

We packed up and did some last-minute shopping. We had a long trip home. The whole experience was amazing!

The Impact of Sports on Disability Empowerment

Adaptive sports are competitive or recreational sports for people with disabilities. These programs promote:

Physical health and wellness
Social connection and teamwork
Confidence and independence
Inclusion at the local, national, and global level

Organizations like Special Olympics and Easterseals help athletes like Carter develop skills that carry over into daily life—including focus, discipline, and collaboration.

From the Field to the Workplace: HB Threads

Carter isn’t just thriving in sports—he’s also part of the inclusive workforce at HB Threads, Easterseals’ social enterprise that provides competitive-wage employment to individuals with disabilities. At HB Threads, Carter helps create custom apparel and swag—turning his creativity and attention to detail into high-quality products.

Whether it’s crafting custom t-shirts or training for a race, Carter exemplifies what individuals can achieve when given the right support and opportunities.

Support HB Threads—And Talented Individuals Like Carter

Every purchase from HB Threads helps fund job training and life skills development, offering meaningful employment to people with disabilities. You can support athletes and workers like Carter by:

Ordering custom apparel and swag from HB Threads
Donating to Easterseals to expand inclusive sports and employment programs
Volunteering or spreading awareness about adaptive sports and social enterprises

How Adaptive Sports Empower Athletes Like Carter Sanders

The Power of Adaptive Sports at the Hawaii Special Olympics

Competing with Purpose: Carter’s Journey

The Impact of Sports on Disability Empowerment

From the Field to the Workplace: HB Threads

Support HB Threads—And Talented Individuals Like Carter

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