SPECIAL OLYMPICS Illinois Project UNIFY® Staff Information Webinar Wednesday, August 26, 2015

A strategy to activate youth, engage educators, and promote school communities of acceptance and inclusion where all young people are agents of change. Utilizing the sports and education initiatives of Special Olympics, Project UNIFY®: Fosters respect and dignity for people with intellectual disabilities Changes actions and attitudes among their peers without intellectual disabilities. CHARACTERISTICS Unifying Sports Program Youth Leadership School/Community Collaborations Creating/Sustaining Relationships Communications Professional Development Continuous Improvement PROJECT UNIFY ® 2 |

UNIFYINCLUDE ALL STUDENTSSPECIAL ED STUDENTS STUDENT-LEDADULT-LED SPORTS AS A CATALYST FOR SELF AND SCHOOL CLIMATE CHANGE SPORTS OPPORTUNITIES PROJECT UNIFY ® GOALS 3 |

Youth Activation Committees Schools: All Students & Teachers Family & Friends Communities, Companies, & Governments Unified Sports teams Engaged/Involved Students School & Community Impact Community School

Young Athletes™, “Get Into It®” curriculum & e-tools, Unify Day, Web site information/ activities/ friendships, Fans in the Stands, assemblies PRE- K/ELEMENTARY Unified Sports clubs, “Get Into It®” curriculum and e-tools, Youth Summits & rallies, Unify Day, “R-Word”, Partners Clubs, Web site connections, essay contests, Fans in the Stands Unified Sports, “Get Into It®” curriculum & e-tools, Unify Day, Games, “R-Word”, web- based friendships, partners Clubs, social networking, essay contests, editorial writing, volunteering, Fans in the Stands, assemblies & rallies MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL A WHOLE SCHOOL APPROACH 5 |

A WHOLE SCHOOL APPROACH 6 | School Assemblies Pep Rallies Get Into It R Word Campaigns Fans in the Stands Partner Clubs, Youth Committees Youth Leadership Unified Sports Young Athletes

Young Athletes ™ – early intervention, ages 2-7 social and motor development Get Into It ® service-learning, standards- aligned K-12 curriculum Games and sports events Volunteering Unified Sports ® teams R-Word Assemblies and Rallies for Respect Partners Clubs and ALPs – Athlete Leadership/ Inclusive Youth Leadership PROJECT UNIFY ® PROGRAM ELEMENTS 7 |

WHAT IS UNIFIED SPORTS ® ? Places individuals with intellectual disabilities (athletes) and individuals without intellectual disabilities (partners) side by side on competitive sports teams. THE UNIFIED SPORTS® MISSION To promote athleticism and social inclusion through sports PROJECT UNIFY ® ELEMENT UNIFIED SPORTS ® CELEBRATING PEOPLE OF ALL DIFFERENCES 8 | *Reach More Athletes

IMPACT “The general education and special education students have learned so much about each other…I see the students hanging out in the halls together now and having lunch with each other. It's a win-win situation for everyone." Linda Davenport-Kennedy, Online resource for teachers to introduce acceptance Downloaded by 2,000 teachers in Illinois Whole school approach: Teachers receive standards-aligned, inclusive curriculum (newest version launched in fall 2014 to 3 million teachers and administrators) Students with and without ID collaborate on projects and activities through service-learning and experiential-learning Serves as complement to other school activities such as r-word, Unified Sports ® or Fans in the Stands PROJECT UNIFY ® ELEMENT GET INTO IT ® 9 | *Increase Knowledge and Quality

PROJECT UNIFY ® ELEMENT SO GET INTO IT ® MATERIALS

Early-intervention program for ages 2-7 Introduced in 2005, now serving approx 20,000 children and families in Illinois, Whole school approach: K-2 students participate in inclusive physical activities 3rd - 8th graders become peer “buddies” or “helpers” Students learn acceptance and understanding Students gain volunteer experience planning and implementing the culminating event. PROJECT UNIFY ® ELEMENT YOUNG ATHLETES ™ 11 | *Reach More Athletes

Currently promotes self-advocacy and leadership skills Project Unify® builds and expands upon this model to include all students through Partners Clubs, Club UNIFY and other inclusive group activities Whole school approach: Youth leaders with and without ID develop the leadership skills to work together for school change, both in newly formed clubs and committees, and through existing student groups such as student councils and service clubs Students without ID gain the critical skills to include their peers with ID in substantive and meaningful leadership, collaboration and co-creation PROJECT UNIFY ® ELEMENT ALPS & INCLUSIVE YOUTH LEADERSHIP 12 | *Increase Knowledge and Quality

What was an afterschool sports event or field trip for the special education students now engages the entire student body through Fans in the Stands and pep assemblies and rallies Project Unify® builds and expands upon the volunteer model to include all students. Whole school approach: Entire schools engage in pep rallies held for all students to receive recognition, students volunteer Students serve as peer coaches or partners on Unified Sports® teams Student councils and other inclusive leadership clubs conduct and manage sports competitions and related events such as r-word pledges, or poster contests PROJECT UNIFY ® ELEMENT GAMES & EVENTS 13 | *Increase Knowledge and Quality

Special Olympics Project UNIFY® provides opportunities for young people of all abilities to be leaders in their schools and communities by promoting equality and acceptance. These leadership activities help students with and without intellectual disabilities find their voices by teaching them to become change agents striving for respect and inclusion Whole school approach: Entire school participates in revenue sharing fundraising opportunity Change for Champions Schools create teams and fundraise for the Polar Plunge – Cool School or Coaster Challenge Students serve as volunteers for Color in Motion, Area – District – State events in a variety of roles. PROJECT UNIFY ® ELEMENT Youth Leadership 14 | *Raise more resources, Increase Quality

History of Project UNIFY in Illinois… 15 | *Reach More Athletes

STATEWIDE GOALS – Year 8 16 | 185Total Project UNIFY Schools 80 New Project UNIFY Schools 20 Special Olympics Colleges 9,000 Unified Sport Athletes (including Young Athletes) 18,000 Unified Sport Partners (including YA Peer Partners) 4 Youth Activation Summits 75 Professional Development Opportunities Offered 2 Communications to Schools per Month 150,000 Youth Exposed to the message of Project UNIFY *Reach More Athletes

...Project UNIFY Year 8 ( ) 17 | 20,000 in Outreach Opportunities (College, Teacher and Student) RESPECT Campaigns Incentive for New Unified Sport Teams SO Get Into Curriculum Youth Activation Committee/ Summit School Fundraisers Youth Volunteers Club UNIFY

...Project UNIFY Year 8 ( ) - NEW 18 | Champion Schools Area Outreach Funds District Growth Unified Sports Day Make A Difference Day Unified Basketball Game Days Focus on Partnership (IHSA, Chicago Fire, ISBE, IAPEHRD, Student Councils)

Recruit 2 New Project UNIFY Schools in your area. (That will be a total of 36 schools across the state) A total of 80 new schools needed this year. $500 for each new school recruited by an Area Staff. ($1,000 per area) 1 SCHOOL should be a new agency. 1 SCHOOL can be a current Special Olympics agency. 44 SCHOOLS we will work to grow already established school districts – expand sites. 1 CHAMPION SCHOOL, per area Utilize created rubric and work with Project UNIFY staff to identify Champion School in each area. RECOGNIZE champion school at all area events. PRESENT champion school banner during an Opening Ceremonies for an event. We need your help! 19 |

School Commitment Form Monthly Calendar Numbers Reports (1 per Semester -Online) Annual Evaluation – Online School Personal Story What paperwork needs to be completed? 20 |

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