S:US holds annual Developmental Disabilities Championships in Astoria Park
Services for the UnderServed (S:US) hosted its annual Developmental Disabilities Championships and Family Fun Day in Astoria Park on Oct. 8. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
October 8, 2026
QNS
Shane O’Brien
Hundreds of people basked in the October sunshine in Astoria Park Thursday morning for Services for the UnderServed’s annual Olympic-style Developmental Disabilities Championships, celebrating individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities from across New York City.
Services for the UnderServed (S:US), a nonprofit dedicated to creating a more equitable New York by empowering adults with disabilities, hosted the annual championships and Family Fun Day at the Astoria Park Running Track, kicking off proceedings with an Olympic-style opening ceremony and parade.
The championships began with an Olympic-style parade. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Over 600 individuals participated in the championships, which featured track-and-field events, basketball games and arts and crafts.
Cheered on by hundreds of onlookers, participants donned mostly orange and blue clothing in honor of the 2026 theme, “Anything’s Possible,” which celebrated the Knicks’ NBA Championship victory.
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Monica Santos, S:US’ chief program officer, said the event aims to empower and platform individuals with developmental disabilities.
“People with developmental disabilities haven’t been afforded the same choices as everyone else,” Santos said at Thursday’s event. “This event is really about ensuring that they have the same opportunities that you or I have.”
Monica Santos (left) poses with S:US athletes at Astoria Park on Thursday. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
The annual event, founded 17 years ago, has more than tripled in size since its inaugural year, Santos said, providing families of individuals with developmental disabilities with an opportunity to see their children compete in athletic competition. She noted that as recently as around 40 years ago, many families would have had no options but to institutionalize their children.
“Forty years ago, you were told to institutionalize your child. Now you’re told your child can have an amazing life in the community, and it gives them hope and it gives them comfort because so many families worry what’s going to happen when they’re not here,” Santos said.
Although Santos believes that society has made enormous strides in how it has treated individuals with disabilities, she believes some obstacles still remain, including societal stigma toward developmentally disabled individuals.
“It’s the stigma that people have about people with disabilities, not giving them the same opportunities,” she said. “Funding is also always an issue.”
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Latima Anderson Mason, who oversees S:US’ seven residences in Queens, said the event is both empowering and inspiring for the individuals who take part. She added that events like annual sporting competitions help provide normalcy for developmentally disabled people and their families.
“They should be able to live their best life,” Anderson Mason said.
As much as events like the annual championship are important for empowering individuals, it is equally important for showcasing the issues they face and creating a sense of normalcy, she added.
“Inclusion can still be a challenge,” Anderson Mason said. “We really want to get the word out to have normalcy for everyone, to understand people with different abilities.”
S:US residences from across the city crafted banners celebrating the 2026 theme ahead of Thursday’s championships, with prizes for most creative, most inclusive and best banner.
All seven Queens residences crafted a connected “train” banner. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Both Santos and Anderson Mason said participants had been working on their banners for many months as anticipation and excitement for the 2026 championships built.
“They start looking forward to this event the day after the last one happens,” Santos said. “Some of them work on their banner for months… I tell them the date for the next one the day after the championships.”
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Anderson Mason, a parent of a child with a disability, said participants had been talking about the event “for weeks.”
“This is one of those days we look forward to every year,” she said. “Everyone is looking forward to this, whether they’re making their banner or whether they’re shopping for their outfit to compete in the championship. No matter what it is, everybody comes together on this day and just has a wonderful time.”
