Daniel Smrokowski is an award-winning disability advocate, journalist, podcaster, and public speaker dedicated to advancing inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He is the founder and host of Special Chronicles, a long-running and internationally recognized media platform that shares stories, interviews, and podcasts highlighting the achievements, experiences, and voices of people with disabilities.
Over 18 years, Special Chronicles has produced more than 1,000 episodes that have reached over 100,000 website views, and achieved more than 50,000 podcast downloads, using storytelling and journalism to promote inclusion, accessibility, and disability awareness. For his commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices through media, Daniel received the Matthew Freeman Award for Social Justice.
In addition to his media work, Daniel serves as a Service Ambassador at United Airlines and is a longtime Special Olympics athlete leader. He has held one of the movement’s highest athlete leadership positions as a Sargent Shriver Global Messenger, representing Special Olympics through public speaking, leadership, and international advocacy.
Through his work in media, advocacy, and leadership, Daniel inspires audiences to see disability inclusion not as a limitation, but as an opportunity to build stronger, more connected communities.
🎙️ Daniel Smrokowski is an award‑winning podcaster, speaker, columnist, and disability advocate, best known as the founder of Special Chronicles — a groundbreaking media platform with 800+ episodes, 17+ years of continuous production, and 50,000+ downloads. Through his work, Daniel amplifies the voices of people with disabilities, earning him the prestigious Matthew Freeman Award for Social Justice.
🏅 Daniel’s journey began as a Special Olympics athlete in Illinois, competing in bocce and basketball. He later became an athlete spokesperson and earned a journalism degree from Roosevelt University. His leadership includes serving on the Special Olympics 50th Anniversary Marketing Committee and contributing as a Chicago Sun‑Times columnist.
✈️ Daniel is one of the first Special Olympics athletes hired by United Airlines, where he works as a Service Ambassador and co‑hosts the Unified at Work podcast series. He also advised the award‑winning documentary All You Hear Is Noise, which follows U.S. athletes with intellectual disabilities.
🌍 As a Sargent Shriver Global Messenger, Daniel represented Special Olympics at the 2019 World Games in Abu Dhabi and 2023 World Games in Berlin, speaking at major events and standing alongside Chairman Tim Shriver to promote global inclusion.
🧠 Daniel currently serves on the Athlete Leadership Advisory Council, is an Athlete Leader and Health Messenger, and previously co‑chaired the Athlete Leadership Council for Special Olympics Illinois. He mentors peers, facilitates board orientations, and in 2024 was selected by Coca‑Cola to represent Special Olympics at the Paris Olympics as part of Team Coca‑Cola.
💬 Despite communication challenges, Daniel’s passion for storytelling, advocacy, and inclusion continues to inspire thousands. Offline, he enjoys biking, walking, and spending time with loved ones.
👉 Listen Now: Discover Daniel’s Story!
Explore More Episodes Featuring Daniel’s Story:
In honor of our 17th year anniversary on the Special Chronicles Podcast, we’re sharing a special live radio conversation host Daniel Smrokowski had on Disability Beat Radio at WEFT Community Radio in Champaign, Illinois. Tune in for a heartfelt celebration of inclusion, advocacy, and the voices that have shaped our journey. From humble beginnings to a global platform, this episode reflects on the power of storytelling to change lives.
Episode 808 ShowNotes & Links
- Listen to Disability Beat Radio on WEFT 90.1 FM in Champaign, IL
- Listen and Follow at SpecialChronicles.com/Pod
- 🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts
- 📺Like watching your podcasts? Listen Full Episode on YouTube
- Support This Podcast: Click Here to Donate Now and support the mission of Special Chronicles
- ➕Join SpecialChronicles+ PLUS! Go to SpecialChronicles.com/PLUS for our Premium Pre Show with behind the scenes podcast chats, exclusive bonus content, and to help support the show.
- 🛒Shop Our Merch: Shop Our Disabled Voices Matter Collection
- 📱Follow us on Socials: @SpecialChronicles
- 📧Email: Send us a message here
- 📧Newsletter: Subscribe to our Mailing List HERE
- 🎤Speaking Engagements with Daniel: Learn more and Book Daniel to speak HERE
- 💡Partner: ComEd EnergyForce
- ✈️Partner: United Airlines Bridge BRG
- 📻Podcast Hosting: Podbean
- 📡Recording Studio: StreamYard
- 🥇PSA: Sign the Inclusion Pledge Now!
- Podcast Theme Music: “It Starts With A Voice” written by Amy Wright and performed by Ben Wright, co-founders of Bitty and Beau’s Coffee. Used with permission.
About the Podcast Host:
Daniel Smrokowski is an award-winning podcaster, columnist, and disability advocate who is best known as the founder and host of Special Chronicles, a groundbreaking podcast platform with over 800 episodes across 17 years. Through storytelling and journalism, Daniel is a recipient of the Matthew Freeman Award for Social Justice for his efforts through media to give people with disabilities a voice. Read more about Daniel HERE
On The Special Chronicles Show Episode 361: We premiere our UNIFIED AT WORK Podcast Original Series. ANGELA MCGOVERN-FRANKLIN takes over as hostess and talks with Daniel Smrokowski for an EXTRAORDINARY conversation about UNIFIED employment taking off at United Airlines in global partnership with Special Olympics. Angela and Daniel talk about: Daniel’s Backstory from Birth to School to Employment, On hearing about Service Ambassador Job at United Airlines (UA), Job Shadow Days, UA Orientations, UA Employee Plane Pull Championship 2019 in Houston, Daniel Speaking to Over 600 United Global Employees, Groundbreaking Partnership between UA & SO, What INCLUSION means to him, Coronavirus COVID-19 and People with Disabilities Higher Risk, and much more!
Access the podcast, video, show notes, links & more mentioned on this episode at https://specialchronicles.com/podcast361
Support This Podcast at https://specialchronicles.com/give
Connect with us on social media: https://specialchronicles.com/socialmedialinks
Send Daniel a TEXT to: 630-280-3082
Send audio and email feedback to feedback@specialchronicles.com
The Unified At Work Show is a Special Chronicles Original Podcast. Visit https://specialchronicles.com/UnifiedAtWork to Listen and Subscribe to Full Episodes Free and On Demand or just search #UnifiedAtWork on all major podcast apps.
The Special Chronicles Show is a Special Chronicles Original Podcast. Visit https://specialchronicles.com/Show to Listen and Subscribe to Full Episodes Free and On Demand or just search #SpecialChronicles on all major podcast apps.
Join us during a LIVE taping of our podcasts. We livestream on YouTube & Facebook. Subscribe to our video channels and access our latest livestreams at https://specialchronicles.com/watch/live
The post On the Job with Daniel Smrokowski, ORD | UnifiedAtWork S1: Part 1 (Ep.361) first appeared on Special Chronicles.
Awards:
In December 2012, Daniel graduated from Roosevelt University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism.
Daniel was also the recipient of the 2012 Matthew Freeman Award for Social Justice from Roosevelt University for his continuing efforts via media and reporting to give people with disabilities a voice.
He was the recipient of the 2012 Les H. Brownlee Scholarship from the Chicago Headline Club.
Daniel was named among 10 other advocates, a national finalist for the American Association of People with Disabilities 2015 Paul G. Hearne Leadership Award.
Daniel received first place for “Best Original Column” in the 2016 Illinois Press Association.
In June 2020, Daniel was presented with the 2020 Self-Advocacy Award from The Arc of Illinois.
