My SOAR Story: Kevin Smallwood

I used to coach a youth soccer team years ago, and one of my players, Maddie, was our goalie. And not just any goalie. She was sharp, fearless, quick on her feet, and had that spark that made everyone around her better. At the time, I had no idea she had an intellectual disability. To me, she was simply Maddie: talented, joyful, competitive, and always ready to play.

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Fast forward about fifteen years. I was attending the Area 14 Spring Games as a Realtor volunteer, just planning to show support or our community event. Then I saw Maddie running on the track with that same energy I remember. At first, I thought she was just having fun, because she always did have fun. But then I saw her again. And again. Focused. Determined. I realized she was competing.

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I ran into her dad and asked about it, and that’s when he shared that she was a Special Olympics Arkansas athlete and had an intellectual disability. That moment stopped me in my tracks. It completely shifted something in me. I realized that the limits I thought existed were never real, they were assumptions I didn’t even know I was carrying. Maddie had shattered every stereotype I had without ever knowing it.

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That moment opened my eyes to the true potential of Special Olympics Arkansas athletes. Their strength. Their talent. Their joy. Their determination. Their community. I saw what they can do not what the world sometimes assumes they can’t.

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And that changed me.

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Knowing Maddie and her family and seeing firsthand what these athletes bring to the world, I felt called to do more. That’s how I eventually became the Mena Board of Realtors Special Olympics Chairman. Since then, I’ve done everything I can to awareness, raise funds, volunteer and cheer.

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The athletes are full of love. They tell the funniest stories. Some of them: I’m still not sure they were supposed to share, but that’s part of the charm. Some athletes need encouragement, some need a high-five, and some need a hug. I’m always ready for all three.​

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The joy they give back is worth more than anyone could ever imagine. Seeing them celebrated, supported, and surrounded by friends is something I never get tired of. And I hope to keep volunteering for as long as I’m able, especially at Special Olympics Arkansas Summer Games. The athletes look forward to these events all year long—not just for the competition, but for the friendships that mean the world to them.​

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That one moment seeing Maddie on the track changed everything for me. It opened my eyes, changed my understanding, and deepened my respect. It made me a better advocate, volunteer, and honestly a better person.