SPECIAL OLYMPICS, INC. for SPECIAL OLYMPICS, INC.
What was lobbied
5 issue areas, each in the filer's own words, with who lobbied on it and where.
Sports/Athletics SPO
2026 USA Games: The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games will be a monumental celebration of ability and inclusion set against the backdrop of the Twin Cities. The mission of the Games is to create an event inclusive of people with intellectual disabilities that celebrates ability, delivers the highest quality experiences for all who participate, and leaves a legacy of positive change in Minnesota.The Games are scheduled to take place from June 20-26, 2026, at the University of Minnesota, the official host venue. In addition to the university, the event will unfold across other locations, including the National Sports Center in Blaine. The Games are expected to bring together 3,000 athletes (people with intellectual disabilities) and Unified partners (people without intellectual disabilities who play on the same team as people with intellectual disabilities) and 1,500 coaches representing all 50 states. They will engage in 16 Special Olympics team and individual sports (both traditional and Unified, where people with and without intellectual disabilities compete together). The event will be supported by a dedicated team of 10,000 volunteers with an expected audience of 75,000 fans cheering on the inspiring athletes.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| MEREDITH CIACCIA PIERCE | — |
| CHRISTIAN CLESI | Science and Technology Policy Fellow, Senate Special Committee on Aging; Disability Policy Aide, Senate Special Committee on Aging |
| SHAWN M FERGUSON | Senior Advisor to the Senator, Senator Kent Conrad Legislative Director, Representative Brian Baird Office Manager & Director of Scheduling, Representative Marcy Kaptur |
Health Issues HCR
Special Olympics Healthy Athletes and Healthy Communities programming (Healthy Athletes provides free health screenings and education for Special Olympics athletes and Healthy Communities is a recognition program within Special Olympics, working to increase access to quality health care and effective prevention programming to improve the health of people with intellectual disabilities), H.R.3409 - HEADs UP Act of 2025: The HEADs UP Act would designate people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) as a Medically Underserved Population, opening up many government programs aimed at improving access to care and reducing health disparities.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| MEREDITH CIACCIA PIERCE | — |
| CHRISTIAN CLESI | Science and Technology Policy Fellow, Senate Special Committee on Aging; Disability Policy Aide, Senate Special Committee on Aging |
| SHAWN M FERGUSON | Senior Advisor to the Senator, Senator Kent Conrad Legislative Director, Representative Brian Baird Office Manager & Director of Scheduling, Representative Marcy Kaptur |
Budget/Appropriations BUD
Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools (programming aimed at promoting social inclusion through intentionally planned and implemented activities affecting systems-wide change. With sports as the foundation, this three component model offers a unique combination of effective activities that equip young people with tools and training to create sports, classroom and school climates of acceptance.), Special Olympics Healthy Athletes and Healthy Communities programming (Healthy Athletes provides free health screenings and education for Special Olympics athletes and Healthy Communities is a recognition program within Special Olympics, working to increase access to quality health care and effective prevention programming to improve the health of people with intellectual disabilities)
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| MEREDITH CIACCIA PIERCE | — |
| CHRISTIAN CLESI | Science and Technology Policy Fellow, Senate Special Committee on Aging; Disability Policy Aide, Senate Special Committee on Aging |
| SHAWN M FERGUSON | Senior Advisor to the Senator, Senator Kent Conrad Legislative Director, Representative Brian Baird Office Manager & Director of Scheduling, Representative Marcy Kaptur |
Education EDU
Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools (programming aimed at promoting social inclusion through intentionally planned and implemented activities affecting systems-wide change. With sports as the foundation, the three component model offers a unique combination of effective activities that equip young people with tools and training to create sports, classroom and school climates of acceptance.)
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| MEREDITH CIACCIA PIERCE | — |
| CHRISTIAN CLESI | Science and Technology Policy Fellow, Senate Special Committee on Aging; Disability Policy Aide, Senate Special Committee on Aging |
| SHAWN M FERGUSON | Senior Advisor to the Senator, Senator Kent Conrad Legislative Director, Representative Brian Baird Office Manager & Director of Scheduling, Representative Marcy Kaptur |
Civil Rights/Civil Liberties CIV
H.R.3420 - Words Matter Act of 2025 - The Words Matter Act replaces more than two dozen instances of the term mentally retarded in U.S. Code with contemporary, respectful language.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| MEREDITH CIACCIA PIERCE | — |
| CHRISTIAN CLESI | Science and Technology Policy Fellow, Senate Special Committee on Aging; Disability Policy Aide, Senate Special Committee on Aging |
| SHAWN M FERGUSON | Senior Advisor to the Senator, Senator Kent Conrad Legislative Director, Representative Brian Baird Office Manager & Director of Scheduling, Representative Marcy Kaptur |
Shown as published by the Senate Office of Public Records and the House Clerk under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. The official filing is the record; open it for the full form.