Clients from Easter Seals Arc competed in the nation’s first Special Olympics ballroom dance competition Saturday at Memorial Coliseum [Fort Wayne, Indiana].

Organizers said they hope the locally developed program will eventually become a model for a new national Special Olympics sport. Competitors got either a first-, second- or third-place medal or a ribbon.

Last week, the athletes and their “unified dancers” — more experienced dancers without disabilities — practiced at American Style Ballroom.

Steve Hinkle, president of Easter Seals Arc, is a longtime ballroom dancer and was the impetus for the program. “I figured if I didn’t get it started, it’s not going to happen,” he said earlier.

- Fort Wayne News-Sentinel: Link.