MDO FAQs – Frequently asked questions
Below are all of the questions we hear most often. Click on a question to jump down the page to the answer.
MDO is a weeklong event in which Deaf/Hard of Hearing (D/HH) children come together from all over the U.S. to participate in Olympic-style sporting competitions.
In 1983, seven volunteers and seven participants began the “Mini Deaf Olympics” which was later renamed The Deaf Youth Sports Festival, but we still call it MDO.
The 40th Anniversary of The Deaf Youth Sports Festival will take place from July 9 through 15, 2023.
MDO will take place at the Kentucky School for the Deaf, 303 S. 2nd Street, Danville, KY 40422.
D/HH children ages 5 through High School come to participate, and are called ‘Participants”. Deaf/HH (after they graduate from High School), and Hearing age 13 and up come to Volunteer (age 13-17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian).
MDO is a program that serves exclusively Deaf/Hard of Hearing (D/HH) Youth ages 5 through High School.
Because there are many events and camps for Hearing and KODA children, but very few for D/HH children, MDO is currently limited to only D/HH youth as participants. KODA and Hearing children, ages 13-17, are welcome to come as volunteers when accompanied by a parent or guardian who is also volunteering.
The criteria we follow is that D/HH children must be mature enough to be comfortable in a dorm setting with other children of their age, and have independent toilet habits with minimal supervision. For Hearing volunteers younger than 13, they must be mature enough to work independently of their parent/guardian, since they may work in a different area. The goal is for all to enjoy their time at MDO without added stress of separation anxiety. We are happy to work with parents on a case-by-case basis if they feel their child has sufficient maturity.
Team and Individual events that are eligible for medals may include basketball, volleyball, soccer, swimming, and bowling. Every year is different depending on the location and needs of our Participants. Other sports we’ve had in the past include tennis, ping pong, track and field events, and many others.
Yes, by the end of the week, everyone will have won at least one medal in a team or individual event.
The children are grouped by age/skills into teams and compete in multiple games daily, culminating in medal winners (gold, silver, bronze) for each event. We have three age groups: Elementary School – ES (ages 5 – 9); Middle School – MS (ages 10 – 13); High School – HS (ages 14 and up). These are general guidelines; our Sports Committee evaluates skills to make sure the teams are evenly balanced.
No. One of the purposes of MDO is to expose D/HH children to many different sports that they may have never tried before. At the beginning of the week we have skills development and explain the rules of each sport before they actually play.
Yes! During the day, the teams are rotated through each sporting event, so that every child will experience and compete in every sport.
Each evening there are different events planned. Some of the events are an Ice Cream Party, Family Roller Skating, MDO Carnival, and a Banquet with DJ and dancing! See the MDO Schedule on the MDO Live tab.
The Dorm is separated by gender, and the children are grouped in rooms with their own age group, not always their teammates, giving them the opportunity to socialize and meet many new friends. The children may choose roommates at registration. Team Coaches/Dorm Supervisors have rooms nearby.
The Participant Affairs Committee is in charge of the safety and care of the children. Each team of 4 to 8 children has a trained coach and assistant coach. The coaches supervise their team 24 hours a day, from waking them up, taking them to meals, and sporting events, then to the evening events and back to dorm for bed.
The Participant Affairs Committee has medical staff that makes sure all medicine is given correctly and on time.
The cost for 2022 is $400 per child. For each Participant that attends MDO, we must raise $750. We offer discounts to help families afford to send their children to MDO. However, we still must raise the difference between the early bird rate and $750 to completely fund each child. For example, if a child pays $400, we must raise another $350 for that child. ALL funding is from grants, donations, and fees paid by participants.
Our goal is to accept all D/HH children who apply to MDO regardless of economic status. We offer early bird rates to aid families in more easily affording to send their children to MDO. Payment plans are also available. There are fundraising opportunities to help raise funds for individual participants, such as the Participant Website fundraiser. We are happy to work with individual families on a case-by-case basis to make sure we don’t have to turn away any child who wants to attend MDO.
We encourage families to hold fundraising activities on their own, and to be involved in MDO fundraising events.
The Participant Website is another good way to ask for donations.
Deaf/HH (after they graduate from High School), and Hearing age 13 and up may apply as Volunteers (age 13-17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian).
First time volunteers are asked to submit three references from clergy, work, friends, and others who can speak to their character and work habits.
Participant Affairs volunteers working directly with the children as coaches sleep on the floor with their team to be available to them 24 hours a day. All other volunteers will be located on separate floors from the children. ONLY Participant Affairs and authorized personnel are allowed on floors with children.
Full-time volunteers are those on duty every day and sleep in the dorm. Part-time volunteers are those on duty less than a full day/full week and commute locally to campus.
We will schedule you to work around your availability. We need volunteers 24 hours a day for the entire 10 days.
Depending on your available time to volunteer for us, and the distance you travel to MDO, we can make accommodations for you to sleep in the dorm, or off campus at local housing. We will work with you to make sure you are comfortable.
All funding is from grants, donations, fundraising events and participant fees.
You can help with:
- Monetary donation
- Hooking us up with an individual or business who can make a donation
- Donating items we need (see Needs list)
- Being a volunteer
- Referring Deaf/Hard of Hearing children to become participants
Committees with specialized duties operate MDO.
Committees and their duties:
- Headquarters
- Hospitality
- Sports
- Awards
- Participant Affairs
- Communications
- Media
- Food