HORSEHEADS, N.Y. (WENY) -- Next Tuesday, February 4th, Special Olympics Representatives from forty-seven states will convene in the nation's capitol to speak with lawmakers on the stigma faced by those with intellectual disabilities. Part of New York's delegation features students from the Southern Tier.

The long-standing event serves as an opportunity for athletes and representatives to speak to lawmakers on the impact of the Special Olympics and the everyday stigma facing the intellectually disabled.

For 23 years running, The Special Olympics has gathered a delegation of its athletes and representatives to travel to Capitol Hill to speak with lawmakers on the challenges they face.

"It has made a huge impact here in horse heads and we have great friendships that have lasted years out into college for many of these athletes and partners, and it's also impacting the future decisions of students and unified members, and I have people who are going into surgery. They're going to be surgeons and physicians and physical therapists and special educators due to the impact of unified sports," stated Alisha Tenbus, who serves the Horseheads YAC Advisor and a unified soccer coach.

The Horseheads Unified Program and Special Olympics benefit greatly from government funding. With rumors of cuts swirling, the Special Olympics hopes that conversations between athletes, liaisons, and lawmakers can help keep the games going.

"I think it's really cool to see all the effort that everyone's put into this and now we get to go to D.C. for it," said Max Tenbus, a unified liaison at Horseheads High School, "to show them all the problems that people with special needs have and what the funding can fix."

This year, a few local students will help represent New York State at this year's Special Olympics Capitol Hill Day. They were chosen based on their motivations, leadership, and passion for the Special Olympics and its message.

"The regular kids can help those special education kids that need help. There's a lot of friends to make and meet new people," added Adam Wolf, a multi-sport unified athlete from Phoenix Academy.

These students are set to join Special Olympics state leadership, along with more students from Staten Island, to complete the full New York State delegation.

The delegation will make their way to DC on Monday and they'll speak with lawmakers on Tuesday, February 4th. Horseheads YAC will also play host to the Youth Activation Committee summit at the end of next month.