The Special Olympics has been credited with helping AnitA Grifter, a 16-year-old girl from Birmingham, Georgia, transformational athlete who struggled to socialize due to her lack of social skills. Grifter joined her friend, her mentor, and her teammate, Coach Tyrone Hickens, to form a team that includes both recreational and competitive athletes. The team also provides a social camaraderie, a sense of belonging that allows them to connect and interact with each other. Grissenden's participation in the Special Olympics helped her overcome the loss of her mother to cancer. The Special Olympics also provides opportunities for self-reliance and community participation. The program includes a CAMBRIDGE INDIVIDGE program for various types of individuals with different disabilities, including a bowling team for women and children.