Today we had one of our last visits while staying in Dublin. First, we visited the EPIC museum. The museum was very interactive and had a universal design approach. There were lifts (elevators) if anyone needed one, which helps not only those with mobility issues but also people with strollers, etc. Next, as with other things I have been to in Dublin, there were audio options to guide you through the museum. This approach is also universal design because it can help those who may thrive with more guidance and those with attention differences, vision impairments, and other things. This can make anyone’s experience more enjoyable. Something that benefitted me was the use of captions and written explanations for everything that was being shown. This helped me personally, as I have difficulties with hearing things, so it allowed me to be able to focus and understand what was occurring in the very interesting videos!

We also visited Special Olympics Ireland. Upon arrival, I witnessed a place that I had never seen before. Among the beautiful scenery were multiple buildings, all housing different sporting facilities. Eventually, we ended up at the building that was specifically for Special Olympics Ireland. Their logo sitting at the front of the building immediately caught my attention. It resembled some sort of athletic ball with all of the connections occurring through human-like figures. This logo perfectly encapsulates what their mission and program are all about. Consisting of around fifteen sports, participants are given the opportunity to try things they never would have had the chance to experience. Some are even able to compete on a global level. This opportunity and striving to want to compete are fostered through a children’s program that hones in on learning those fundamental movement skills such as balance, throwing, and running, as well as other key aspects like mental health. 

One aspect of Special Olympics Ireland that caught my attention was their leadership roles. We had two leaders present to us about what they do and the things they learned. Out of the many presentations we have listened to, this one was the most enthralling and eye-opening. They essentially grew up through this program and clearly stated how much this was beneficial for them. I think that this presentation was among the best because it was led by the people who benefited from the program. Hearing direct stories showed me what this trip was all about.