Woman with autism to cover Special Olympics

Reporter is paving the way for others



Borakove

Borakove

The opportunity to report on the 2015 Special Olympics in Los Angeles—the largest event to hit the city since the Summer Games of 1984—is the thrill of a lifetime for Westlake Village resident Robin Borakove.

Diagnosed at age 41 with Asperger’s syndrome, a highfunctioning form of autism, the 50-year-old author and professional storyteller says the chance to cover the games for the website SpecialNeeds.com has given her renewed purpose—and she’s making the most out of every minute.

“This is a great thing for me to finally be taken seriously as a journalist,” said Borakove, whose family nicknamed her “the little reporter” not long after she started talking. Last Friday, Borakove and her crew of three followed along as the Flame of Hope, the symbol of the Special Olympics, traveled from Calabasas to Thousand Oaks to Simi Valley.

Aided by video specialist and photographer Freddie Boomer and assistant Christina Lascala, Borakove helped capture the excitement—and brought plenty of her own—as the torch made its way from city to city, signaling the arrival of the games, which open July 25.

“Big smiles, everybody!” she yelled at a group in Thousand Oaks posing with the flame and the Circle of Inclusion, a symbol specific to the World Games.

“Why we chose Robin was simple: She has a passionate personality,” said Merry Potter, the publisher of the Special Needs website.

Potter, a Chatsworth resident, met Borakove last year during a toy drive for charity that serves children on the autism spectrum.

“She is well-spoken, has intimate knowledge regarding special needs families and was our one and only choice when we asked her . . . to be our Special Olympics World Games correspondent,” Potter said.

More than 7,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities will take part in the games over the next week. Their motto: “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

Borakove will use her abundance of energy to attempt to cover the massive event as comprehensively as possible.

“We will be covering over 120 athletic events, turning in footage, photos and articles every day for the nine days of games,” she said.

All stories written by Borakove can be read online at Special- Needs.com, where she’s been a contributor since last year.

Before 2014, she was best known locally for traveling around as “Fairy Queen Flutterby” and sharing inspirational stories with children.

As an adult living with autism, Borakove serves as a role model for others on the spectrum—and the community in general, Potter said.

“She delivers thoughtful, unique content with a personal perspective unmatched by any of her fellow journalists,” she said.

“Robin is a ‘break down the barriers’ journalist who gets to the heart of any issue. She has demonstrated with the right attitude everything is possible,” Potter said.

Borakove, a mother of two sons, Joshua and Trevor Wallace, said she believes “no matter the challenge, we all can be a big hero.”

“My life has evolved in the best ways possible,” she said. “I am trying to pave the way for others like me to be in the media. If I do well covering the Special Olympics, it will help others.”

To learn more about Borakove, check out a personal essay she wrote at www.autismspeaks.org/ blog/2013/04/11/heart-autismgiving back-through-storytelling.

Acorn editor Kyle Jorrey contributed to this article.


AMBASSADOR—Robin Borakove creates excitement by inviting people at The Oaks mall in Thousand Oaks to join the Circle of Inclusion.

AMBASSADOR—Robin Borakove creates excitement by inviting people at The Oaks mall in Thousand Oaks to join the Circle of Inclusion.

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