Starting Something New

Hello everybody! My name is Alex Burns, and I live with autism and Tourette Syndrome. I am a fellow Special Olympics athlete, volunteer, and advocate. I participate in basketball, soccer, and track. Although soccer is enjoyable, basketball remains my favorite.

Starting this week, I will begin my new part-time role as a Digital Content Coordinator for Special Olympics Virginia. My responsibility will be to represent and voice the experiences of Special Olympics members who might not have the platform to do so. I am eager to share inspiring stories of fellow Special Olympics athletes and individuals. While I expect to face challenges and make mistakes along the way, I am determined to give it my all and strive to effectively represent Special Olympics athletes in this new role.

I am also incredibly excited to learn more about the different functions and aspects of various pieces of electronic equipment. This equipment will be instrumental in photographing, recording, and filming exciting and extraordinary Special Olympics events and stories. This aligns with my personal aspiration to be a filmmaker, as I dream of directing and making movies one day. Because of these passions and dreams, I firmly believe that understanding how to operate and use different technological tools will provide a strong foundation for both of my career goals.

I am looking forward to assisting individuals in the Special Olympics and the wider disability community to gain recognition and proper representation. As a Special Olympics athlete and representative, I understand the importance of sharing these stories to show the world how the Special Olympics has, for many years, enabled members of the disability community to not just survive, but to thrive and enjoy life. To me, it’s very important to both show and tell these stories of diverse individuals, their noble contributions to their communities and the world at large.

I can't wait for a new adventure!