Susan Shaffer has always had a passion for sports and working with people with disabilities.
As Special Olympics Missouri's outreach and games director, she can often be found setting up events, playing sports and doing activities with the athletes, or reaching out to people to partner with.
Her favorite part of the job is interacting with the athletes and watching them grow, she said, especially during week-long overnight sports camps where she watches them gain new experiences and independence.
Shaffer majored in recreation at Missouri Western State University, where she worked at United Cerebral Palsy and volunteered with Special Olympics.
About 28 years ago, she moved from St. Joseph to Columbia to work in a group home for Boone County Family Resources and the Parks and Recreation special population. Shaffer has been involved with Special Olympics since college, and she became the outreach and games director for Special Olympics Missouri 22 years ago.
"It's kind of the perfect job for me," she said.
The athletes have taught Shaffer many things, she said, such as how to be patient, accept everyone and accept life no matter what.
"They are people who truly just enjoy life, and if you can get to know them, they will tell you that," she said. "They love music, they love to dance, they just love life. And if you can reach out and really be a part of their life, that's what they're going to teach you - to just enjoy life."
Shaffer said her dad always taught her to enjoy life no matter what, and she is motivated every day by being around people who have a similar attitude. The athletes enjoy life no matter what, Shaffer said, even when they struggle to be accepted.
"If we learn from those guys, we may be better off and enjoy more of life," she said.
Shaffer said she's learned a lot from the athletes' love, kindness and acceptance.
"They truly accept you for who you are, and I think that's one lesson that we can learn, and I think that's what generates me every day," she said.
In 2003, Shaffer got to take the handball team to Ireland, and the team lost every day. As a competitive person, Shaffer was disappointed at first, she said. However, the athletes taught her it isn't about winning and losing - it's about enjoying the experience.
"I met Muhammad Ali there, and most people don't even get to do that or get to walk into 85,000 people cheering for you," she said.
Even though the team won fourth place, they accepted their ribbons like it was a gold medal.
"I think that's probably what I learned the most - that they truly were just there to play and be a part of the competition," she said. "It really wasn't about them winning the gold medal."
Shaffer's goals are to partner with more organizations and get more people to join Special Olympics and understand what it's truly about, she said, which is to teach people with disabilities life skills through sports and health and to allow them to achieve what they want to in life.
"Our goal really is that one day when you walk here, this isn't an empty field - it's a packed field," she said. "My goal is that we're reaching one more athlete each and every day."