SpecialStories

From his website: www.JustinHines.org
Possessed of an unflagging spirit that’s remarkable under any circumstances, Justin copes with a rare genetic joint condition called Larsen Syndrome, that keeps him wheelchair bound. “Sometimes people find it hard to understand why I would be so positive,” he explains. “I was born into my situation, I don’t know any different, [...]

Special Olympics puts out a series of CDs called A Very Special Christmas. This series of 10 CDs (so far) includes many well-known performers who donate their efforts to support the organization. The songs themselves, however, are not about Special Olympics athletes.
Alternate website.

Judy Small
Official Judy Small Website
Judy Small is one of the most influential singer-songwriters to come out of Australia. Her songs, which include one of the hardest-hitting looks at the effects of war, “Mothers, Daughters, Wives” and the ecologically-minded tune, “Charlesworth Bay,” have been covered by Ronnie Gilbert, Eric Bogle, The McCalmans, The Corries, Charlie King [...]

Fred Small
Hailed by Pete Seeger as “one of America’s best songwriters,” Fred Small sings songs of conscience in the tradition of Woody Guthrie, Phil Ochs, and Tom Paxton. Powerful, affecting, and inviting, Fred’s songs illuminate the goodness and courage of all kinds of people.Pete Seeger, Peggy Seeger, Rosalie Sorrels, Steve Gillette, Judy Small (no relation), [...]

David Roth is a singer-songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. He has been performing since at least 1987.
Official David Roth Website
“David has reached our hearts. With voices like his still singing, there’s a certainty that the candle will remain lit, the hope reasserted, and the dream still sung.” Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul & Mary)
Songs
Nine Gold Medals

CD: The Best of Judy Small: Word of Mouth
Song Description
The song is written in a first person point of view describing the songwriter’s efforts to learn to communicate with important people in her life.
SPEAKING HANDS, HEARING EYES
words & music by Judy Small
Jeffrey is just six year old, the biggest smile you ever saw
And there’s so [...]

CD: Heart of the Appaloosa
Song Description
The song describes an encounter between the singer/narrator and a dynamic woman in a wheelchair. It relates the trials and tribulations of life in a wheelchair from someone with a healthy attitude towards life. The song is done in the talking blues style of Woody Guthrie.
From the lyric:
I went for [...]

CD: Digging Through My Closet
Song Description
The story behind Nine Gold Medals has become an urban legend, i.e. a story with some truth that reappears from time to time in different forms. I have received chain email messages that include it.
The story takes place at a Special Olympics track and field competition where in a running [...]

CD: No Limit
Song Description
This song tells the story of Leslie Lemke.
(The following description of Leslie is from: Darold Treffert of the Wisconsin Medical Society)
“Leslie Lemke is a memorable man.” That was Morley Safer’s description of Leslie after he watched him play the piano as part of a 60 Minutes program in 1983 on savant syndrome. [...]