Special Olympics coaching: finding the best in every athlete and having lots of fun

In 2014, my husband, Larry, spent eight days in New Jersey as the New York State triathlon coach at the Special Olympics USA National Games, an experience he stated was “incredible” and “life-affirming.” As soon as he arrived home, he tried to catch up on his sleep, as he got less than five hours a night for the entire trip. How he got to this nirvana of sleep deprivation is part of Shapiro family lore.

In 1995, Larry announced at the dinner table that he had signed up our family to volunteer at the New York State Special Olympics Summer Games, which were being held at the University of Albany...