Over the summer, as Bates announced health and safety guidelines for the 2020–21 academic year the student leaders of the Bates Special Olympics Club knew the year would look different for their club.

With visitors not permitted on campus, Billy Lahart, club president and senior on the men’s basketball team, and Bridget Thompson, club vice president and junior on the field hockey team, knew they would need to change up their regular club activities.

“It wasn’t, ‘I’m not going to see the Navigators.’ It was, ‘How am I going to see them in a different way?’” Thompson said, reflecting on the start of the fall semester.

The Navigators program is a part of John F. Murphy homes, a highly respected provider of services for individuals with intellectual disabilities and other developmental disabilities in Lewiston-Auburn and surrounding areas. A community-based day program for adults, the program and the individuals it serves — referred to as “Navigators” — work every day to improve confidence, increase self-reliance, and expand community participation.

In a typical year, the Bates Special Olympics Club would meet with the Navigators for weekly sport practices and social activities, supporting the program’s goals of meeting the need for health and fitness training, improving independence in daily living, and ongoing learning experiences in the community for its members.

Lahart and Thompson, as well as Ellie Bauer, club treasurer and a junior on the field hockey team, and Grace Biddle, community liaison and a sophomore on the field hockey team, and their fellow club members quickly brainstormed ways to connect with the Navigators during the pandemic year.

The year started off with a pen-pal program and progressed to simultaneous virtual events.

“It's really amazing to see how many of the Navigators and new club members have participated in our pen-pal program,” said Biddle. “It's hard not seeing everyone in person, but communicating through email has really kept our club together during these difficult times. When we finally can all be together again, we will be so much closer as a team because of the friendships we are creating.”

It’s these friendships that are invaluable to both the Navigators and the Bobcats.

“A huge part of what we do at our program is assisting individuals to become part of their community, to feel a sense of belonging,” said Michelle Roy, an administrator for the Navigators program.  “Bates students have taken the time to develop relationships with the individuals. They have found some common ground. We have tried to mimic the events they have planned so that we have that same give and take as you would have in relationships.” 

One of these events was a mask exchange. Bates students set up a decoration station outside Alumni Gym to make masks for the Navigators, who in turn did the same for the Bobcats. For Halloween, Bates students held a Spooky Hangout on campus which they livestreamed to celebrate with the Navigators.

The club’s efforts were acknowledged in a special way recently. Over the semester break, the Navigators virtually presented Lahart with the Roland J. Boutin Award, given to a deserving person outside the JFM Navigators organization who gives of themselves to enrich the lives of people supported by the program. 

“I absolutely could not imagine what my four years would be like without the Navigators,” said Lahart. “I’m so moved and feel so special that they chose to give me this award, especially knowing the legacy and where it comes from. I’m even more grateful for the friendship I have with the Navigators.”

Lahart said working with the Navigators reminds him of what he loves about playing sports. “Making friends, competing hard, overcoming obstacles, and being part of a team. Everyone deserves a chance to experience these joys that come from playing sports. The Navigators emphasize all these things and also serve their community in a variety of ways.”

Both Lahart and Thompson love how the Special Olympics club combines sports with community engagement. “The athletes that we work with motivate us to make this club the best it can be,” said Thompson. “Whenever we show up for a practice or event, seeing and talking with our Navigator friends puts the biggest smiles on our faces. We really believe in the mission of Special Olympics and its goal of providing opportunities for all people to participate in team athletics.”

During the second week of April, the club competed in the first-ever Special Olympics Unified Sports Virtual College Championship Week. Colleges competed across a series of challenges that required team members to connect with each other and spread a message of inclusion through social media. Through its partnership with ESPN, Special Olympics hosted the week as a way for Special Olympics College Clubs to compete against one another while following their colleges’ COVID-19 guidelines. 

The week featured virtual gaming and workouts with the Navigators, as well as a morning meet-up on Zoom to share a great breakfast recipe: mug omelets. Both Bobcats and Navigators took to social media to display their best trick shots and connected on Zoom for a dance and karaoke party. In addition, the club used the week to call on the Bates community to sign its Inclusion Pledge.

Over 30 different colleges and universities registered for the Virtual College Championship Week. At the end of the week, the team with the most participation points was recognized by ESPN as the Virtual College National Champion. Bates finished in second place overall.

“I am in awe of these young men and women. They truly have no idea the impact and the difference they have made in all of our lives, not just the individuals,” said the Navigators’ Roy. “When I watch the interactions and hear the buzz of conversations and laughter, I understand the impact and know these are memories my individuals will talk about for years.”