KELOWNA–21-year-old Janeka Greif has earned 18 medals in her five years of track and field competition with Special Olympics.
Her latest achievements include a silver and a bronze earned at the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles this past summer.
Diagnosed with cerebral palsy and epilepsy at age 3, Greif’s parents were told their little girl would probably never be able to walk or talk.
Her sports achievements have defied the odds.
Now Greif says she is turning her attention to her education and her future.
“I’m hoping to get something in the athletic area or maybe health care or nutrition,” says Greif.
She is enrolled in the Preparing for Access to Careers and Education (PACE) program at Okanagan College for students with cognitive disabilities.
The two year program offers skills such as interpersonal relations, communication, and how to be a good employee. It also offers career internships.
“She’s an interesting young lady and very determined,” says Bev Smith, Chair of the Adult Special Education department at Okanagan College.
Greif is set to graduate from the PACE program in June of 2016.
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