Keterlibatan Pak Tri Waluyo sebagai pelatih di Special Olympics Indonesia (SOIna) berawal dari pengalaman pribadinya sebagai ayah dari anak berkebutuhan khusus. Saat masih bekerja di bidang keuangan, Pak Tri jarang memiliki waktu untuk benar-benar memperhatikan perkembangan anaknya, Habib. Hingga akhirnya, sang istri menyampaikan bahwa Habib mengalami keterlambatan berjalan dan berbicara. Setelah diperiksa, Habib ternyata juga diketahui memiliki gangguan pendengaran.
Perjuangan terapi yang harus dijalani Habib hampir setiap hari membuat Pak Tri dan keluarga menyadari betapa besar tantangan yang dihadapi orang tua dengan anak kebutuhan khusus. Hingga ia harus dihadapkan dengan Pandemi yang membuatnya harus kehilangan pekerjaan dikarenakan terjadi pengurangan karyawan. Di tengah kondisi itu, sang istri berkata, “Ayah nggak coba belajar dari Habib? Coba lihat SOIna di Depok.” Dengan latar belakang yang pernah aktif dalam olahraga saat SMA, Pak Tri mencoba membuka diri. Ia mendatangi SOIna Depok dan bertemu dengan Pak Pahala dan Bu Erna. Pertemuan itu menjadi titik awal ia bergabung sebagai relawan dan pelatih di SOIna.
Sejak itu, setiap Sabtu ia meluangkan waktu untuk melatih di SOIna Depok. Walaupun program saat itu masih minim dukungan, Pak Tri dan para pelatih lain tetap berkomitmen memberikan pengalaman terbaik bagi anak-anak. Mereka rela patungan membeli speaker, air minum, dan perlengkapan latihan lainnya demi menciptakan lingkungan yang nyaman, fun, dan aman bagi para atlet.
Hingga akhirnya, ia memutuskan untuk pindah melatih di SOIna Kab Bogor yang mana dekat dengan tempat tinggalnya dengan melatih cabor bocce. Berkat kegigihannya untuk mau belajar, ia kini juga aktif terlibat di Program YA yang membuka pemahaman baru bagi Pak Tri tentang pentingnya aktivitas motorik anak sejak dini. Ia melihat sendiri bagaimana anak-anak yang awalnya tidak bisa fokus, sulit berinteraksi sosial, atau menolak mengikuti instruksi, mulai menunjukkan perubahan signifikan setelah mengikuti YA secara konsisten. Gerakan dasar seperti kicking, jumping, hingga balancing yang awalnya sangat sulit perlahan-lahan mulai dikuasai anak-anak, termasuk Habib sendiri.
Sebagai pelatih YA, tantangan terbesar baginya adalah membangun kedekatan emosional dengan anak-anak dan memastikan orang tua tetap sabar dan konsisten. Pak Tri selalu memulai sesi dengan fun activity seperti tepuk tangan, nyanyi, atau permainan ringan agar anak-anak merasa nyaman sebelum masuk ke gerakan inti. Ia juga terbiasa memberikan dukungan kepada orang tua bahwa perubahan tidak terjadi dalam sehari, tetapi konsistensi akan membawa kemajuan nyata.
Bagi Pak Tri, Program Young Athletes tidak boleh terputus. YA adalah pondasi penting untuk anak-anak dengan kebutuhan khusus dalam mengembangkan motorik, interaksi sosial, dan kemampuan mengikuti instruksi. Apa yang ia pelajari dari Habib justru membuatnya semakin yakin bahwa setiap anak punya potensi besar yang bisa berkembang jika diberi kesempatan, bimbingan, dan pendampingan yang tepat.
Kini, keterlibatan Pak Tri di YA bukan hanya sebagai pelatih, tetapi juga sebagai bentuk rasa syukur dan dedikasi. Ia ingin meneladani anak-anak, menguatkan para orang tua, dan membantu menciptakan ruang aman di mana setiap anak dapat tumbuh, belajar, dan merasa dihargai.
Pak Tri Waluyo’s involvement as a coach with Special Olympics Indonesia (SOIna) began with his personal experience as the father of a child with special needs. While working in the finance sector, Pak Tri had limited time to closely observe the development of his son, Habib. Over time, his wife expressed concerns that Habib was experiencing delays in walking and speaking. Further medical assessments revealed that Habib also has a hearing impairment.
The intensive therapy Habib had to undergo almost every day made Pak Tri and his family deeply aware of the challenges faced by parents of children with special needs. This situation became even more difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Pak Tri lost his job due to workforce reductions. In the midst of this challenging period, his wife encouraged him by saying, “Why don’t you try learning from Habib? Visit SOIna in Depok.” With a background in sports during his high school years, Pak Tri embraced this suggestion. He visited SOIna Depok and met Mr. Pahala and Ms. Erna, an encounter that marked the beginning of his journey as a volunteer and coach with SOIna.
Since then, Pak Tri has dedicated every Saturday to coaching at SOIna Depok. Despite limited resources at the time, he and fellow coaches remained committed to providing the best possible experience for the athletes. They voluntarily contributed their own funds to purchase speakers, drinking water, and training equipment to create a safe, fun, and supportive training environment.
Eventually, Pak Tri decided to continue his coaching role with SOIna Bogor Regency, which is closer to his residence, where he coaches the sport of bocce. Through his strong willingness to learn, he also became actively involved in the Young Athletes (YA) Program. This involvement broadened his understanding of the importance of early motor skill development for children with special needs. He personally witnessed how children who initially struggled with focus, social interaction, or following instructions began to show significant progress through consistent participation in YA. Fundamental movements such as kicking, jumping, and balancing gradually became achievable, including for his own son, Habib.
As a Young Athletes coach, Pak Tri’s greatest challenge lies in building emotional connections with the children and encouraging parents to remain patient and consistent. He always begins each session with fun activities such as clapping, singing, or simple games to help children feel comfortable before transitioning to structured exercises. He also regularly reassures parents that meaningful progress does not happen overnight, but that consistency leads to lasting improvement.
For Pak Tri, the Young Athletes Program must be sustained. He believes that YA serves as a crucial foundation for children with special needs to develop motor skills, social interaction, and the ability to follow instructions. What he has learned through his journey with Habib has strengthened his belief that every child holds great potential, potential that can be nurtured through opportunity, guidance, and appropriate support.
Today, Pak Tri’s involvement in Young Athletes extends beyond his role as a coach. It represents his sense of gratitude and dedication to empowering children with special needs, supporting parents, and helping to create safe and inclusive environments where every child can grow, learn, and be valued.