Laura
05-28-2007, 08:03 AM
...a Special Athlete from Staten Island will be going there, too!
A pinnacle achievement (http://www.silive.com/living/advance/index.ssf?/base/living/1180261916128430.xml&coll=1)
Eltingville woman will compete in Special Olympics World Summer Games in China
Sunday, May 27, 2007
By ANDREA BOYARSKY
STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Elisa Fruscianti has a lot going for her. She's looking to move into an apartment with one of her friends, she has a strong relationship with her companion of 12 years and she travels throughout Staten Island via bus, keeping up her social life.
For many 28-year-olds, these tasks come easy and are taken for granted. But for Ms. Fruscianti, who is developmentally disabled, they represent her hard work and determination to live an independent lifestyle. In October, she will add another achievement to her list when she competes in the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China.
When asked about the World Games, Ms. Fruscianti, a shy woman with a sweet smile, simply said: "I've never been to China."
But those seated around her at the Lifestyles Caffe, operated by Lifestyles for the Disabled in Willowbrook, urged her to talk about her accomplishments.
"She was so happy when I told her. Good things are happening to her in her life," said Richard Salinardi, coordinator of the Staten Island Special Olympics, chairman of the board for the state Special Olympics and executive director of Lifestyles for the Disabled.
"Elisa is setting an example for others [with disabilities]."
Ms. Fruscianti is one of three New York City-area residents -- and the only one from Staten Island -- chosen to participate in the World Games, where she will be competing in track and field. The games occur every two years, alternating between summer and winter games, just like the original Olympics. This year's theme is "I Know I Can."
According to Neal Johnson, Special Olympics New York president and chief executive officer, "participation in the World Games is a pinnacle of achievement for any Special Olympics athlete."
"I feel so happy for her, I really am. I wish I had the honor to go," said Ms. Fruscianti's fiance, Luis Lopez, another Special Olympics athlete. "I'm very proud of her. I'm one lucky guy to have a girl like this."
With the help of Salinardi and Lopez, Ms. Fruscianti discussed her life and future prospects. Tears often came to her eyes, expressing her happiness, and at times, nervousness, of what's to come.
She has been participating in Special Olympics for around seven years and enjoys making new friends and traveling. So far, Ms. Fruscianti has only traveled throughout the state to compete. Recently, she competed in the Staten Island Special Olympics and will compete in the New York City Metro Tournament on June 2 in Riverbank State Park, Manhattan. The organization is looking for people to come out "to be a fan" that day, cheering on Ms. Fruscianti and her peers.
In July, she's off to Tennessee for training camp, where she will meet with the rest of Special Olympics Team USA and her new coaches. Special Olympics is looking for sponsors to help send Ms. Fruscianti to the world games, which will cost around $5,000.
To practice for the games, Ms. Fruscianti walks every morning with her co-workers at the Lifestyles laundry program. Those in the program use washers and dryers to launder sheets, linens and garments for Lifestyles' internal programs and several Island businesses. When Ms. Fruscianti goes out, instead of directly taking the bus, she will walk the half mile to the next bus stop.
"She's always practicing and training," Salinardi said, adding that more intensive training will start closer to the China trip.
Over the years, Ms. Fruscianti has won around 100 medals, although when asked, she modestly says "a few."
"She wins a couple every time she competes," chimed in Salinardi, who will also be going to China for the games. She keeps them on a hook in her room in the Eltingville group home she lives in with five other women.
She grew up in Stapleton and graduated from the Hungerford School in Clifton, which serves developmentally disabled students. When Ms. Fruscianti came to Lifestyles for the Disabled at around the age of 20, she was very quiet and didn't want to participate in anything.
"She likes to be independent. If you ask her to do something, she'll do it. She likes to be helpful. Everybody here gets along with her," said Dee Reyes, her Special Olympics coach, who also helps run the Lifestyles laundry program. .
Ms. Reyes added that Ms. Fruscianti is like a younger sister to her, helping her greatly with the laundry. "She's my left arm, I depend on her," she added. To other athletes, Ms. Fruscianti is like the big sister, helping them out, even if they are her competition.
"There's a lot of anxiety for athletes their first time," Salinardi said. "That's where Elisa and other athletes come in and tell them what to do. The experience of Elisa is especially helpful to the girls."
She's very independent, those interviewed agreed, which is a quality most disabled people strive to attain. She is currently looking into going into a supportive apartment program with another woman from her group home. Other disabled women see what she is doing -- going out to dinner and the movies, planning parties, traveling, hanging out with friends -- and are given hope that they can, too.
"She's enjoying her life," Salinardi said. "Young girls have someone to look up to. All the things we take for granted, it's not so easy [for the disabled]."
For more on Special Olympics New York, visit, www.specialolympicsny.org. To support Ms. Fruscianti, go to www.firstgiving.com/elisafruscianti.
Andrea Boyarsky is a features reporter for the Advance. She may be reached at boyarskysiadvance.com.
© 2007 Staten Island Advance
© 2007 SILive.com All Rights Reserved.
A pinnacle achievement (http://www.silive.com/living/advance/index.ssf?/base/living/1180261916128430.xml&coll=1)
Eltingville woman will compete in Special Olympics World Summer Games in China
Sunday, May 27, 2007
By ANDREA BOYARSKY
STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Elisa Fruscianti has a lot going for her. She's looking to move into an apartment with one of her friends, she has a strong relationship with her companion of 12 years and she travels throughout Staten Island via bus, keeping up her social life.
For many 28-year-olds, these tasks come easy and are taken for granted. But for Ms. Fruscianti, who is developmentally disabled, they represent her hard work and determination to live an independent lifestyle. In October, she will add another achievement to her list when she competes in the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China.
When asked about the World Games, Ms. Fruscianti, a shy woman with a sweet smile, simply said: "I've never been to China."
But those seated around her at the Lifestyles Caffe, operated by Lifestyles for the Disabled in Willowbrook, urged her to talk about her accomplishments.
"She was so happy when I told her. Good things are happening to her in her life," said Richard Salinardi, coordinator of the Staten Island Special Olympics, chairman of the board for the state Special Olympics and executive director of Lifestyles for the Disabled.
"Elisa is setting an example for others [with disabilities]."
Ms. Fruscianti is one of three New York City-area residents -- and the only one from Staten Island -- chosen to participate in the World Games, where she will be competing in track and field. The games occur every two years, alternating between summer and winter games, just like the original Olympics. This year's theme is "I Know I Can."
According to Neal Johnson, Special Olympics New York president and chief executive officer, "participation in the World Games is a pinnacle of achievement for any Special Olympics athlete."
"I feel so happy for her, I really am. I wish I had the honor to go," said Ms. Fruscianti's fiance, Luis Lopez, another Special Olympics athlete. "I'm very proud of her. I'm one lucky guy to have a girl like this."
With the help of Salinardi and Lopez, Ms. Fruscianti discussed her life and future prospects. Tears often came to her eyes, expressing her happiness, and at times, nervousness, of what's to come.
She has been participating in Special Olympics for around seven years and enjoys making new friends and traveling. So far, Ms. Fruscianti has only traveled throughout the state to compete. Recently, she competed in the Staten Island Special Olympics and will compete in the New York City Metro Tournament on June 2 in Riverbank State Park, Manhattan. The organization is looking for people to come out "to be a fan" that day, cheering on Ms. Fruscianti and her peers.
In July, she's off to Tennessee for training camp, where she will meet with the rest of Special Olympics Team USA and her new coaches. Special Olympics is looking for sponsors to help send Ms. Fruscianti to the world games, which will cost around $5,000.
To practice for the games, Ms. Fruscianti walks every morning with her co-workers at the Lifestyles laundry program. Those in the program use washers and dryers to launder sheets, linens and garments for Lifestyles' internal programs and several Island businesses. When Ms. Fruscianti goes out, instead of directly taking the bus, she will walk the half mile to the next bus stop.
"She's always practicing and training," Salinardi said, adding that more intensive training will start closer to the China trip.
Over the years, Ms. Fruscianti has won around 100 medals, although when asked, she modestly says "a few."
"She wins a couple every time she competes," chimed in Salinardi, who will also be going to China for the games. She keeps them on a hook in her room in the Eltingville group home she lives in with five other women.
She grew up in Stapleton and graduated from the Hungerford School in Clifton, which serves developmentally disabled students. When Ms. Fruscianti came to Lifestyles for the Disabled at around the age of 20, she was very quiet and didn't want to participate in anything.
"She likes to be independent. If you ask her to do something, she'll do it. She likes to be helpful. Everybody here gets along with her," said Dee Reyes, her Special Olympics coach, who also helps run the Lifestyles laundry program. .
Ms. Reyes added that Ms. Fruscianti is like a younger sister to her, helping her greatly with the laundry. "She's my left arm, I depend on her," she added. To other athletes, Ms. Fruscianti is like the big sister, helping them out, even if they are her competition.
"There's a lot of anxiety for athletes their first time," Salinardi said. "That's where Elisa and other athletes come in and tell them what to do. The experience of Elisa is especially helpful to the girls."
She's very independent, those interviewed agreed, which is a quality most disabled people strive to attain. She is currently looking into going into a supportive apartment program with another woman from her group home. Other disabled women see what she is doing -- going out to dinner and the movies, planning parties, traveling, hanging out with friends -- and are given hope that they can, too.
"She's enjoying her life," Salinardi said. "Young girls have someone to look up to. All the things we take for granted, it's not so easy [for the disabled]."
For more on Special Olympics New York, visit, www.specialolympicsny.org. To support Ms. Fruscianti, go to www.firstgiving.com/elisafruscianti.
Andrea Boyarsky is a features reporter for the Advance. She may be reached at boyarskysiadvance.com.
© 2007 Staten Island Advance
© 2007 SILive.com All Rights Reserved.