1. Unified Champion Schools
2017 Leadership Conference

2. Unified Champion Schools Video

3. Unified Champion Schools
Social Inclusion Sports Health & Fitness Early Intervention

4. Unified Champion Schools
With sports as the foundation, Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools is a strategy that offers a unique combination of sports, education and leadership activities to equip young people with tools and training to create sports, classroom and school climates of acceptance and inclusion.
The activities and opportunities provided through the program help to reduce bullying and exclusion, promote healthy activity and interactions, combat stereotypes and stigma, eliminate hurtful language in schools and engage people in social activities that lead to personal growth.
Brittany
231 Unified Champion Schools
180, 000 Reached Statewide

5. Core Components of Unified Champion Schools
1) Unified Sports
2) Inclusive Youth Leadership
3) Whole School Engagement
Project UNIFY is made up of three main components: Inclusive Sports Activities, Youth Leadership & Advocacy, and Whole School Engagement.
It is the combination of these unique components that provides the most opportunity for creating positive school climates and to ensuring that all students, particularly those with ID, become part of the social fabric of the school.
When all three components are adapted into a school, that school then becomes a “Project UNIFY School”
Brittany DOud
Unified Champion School
4) Health

6. Young Athletes
Special Olympics Young Athletes is a sport and play program for children with and without intellectual disabilities (ID), ages 2 to 7 years old. Young Athletes introduces basic sport skills, like running, kicking and throwing.
The activities and opportunities provided through the program help to reduce bullying and exclusion, promote healthy activity and interactions, combat stereotypes and stigma, eliminate hurtful language in schools and engage people in social activities that lead to personal growth.
Isaac
YAP DAYS
7,300 Participating Young Athletes

7. AIA Unified Sports
The main philosophy of SOAZ / AIA Unified Sports® is inclusion and recognition of Special Olympics Athletes on their high school campus. Unified Sports® athletes and partners enjoy a typical high school sports experience with opportunities to compete, represent their school and earn recognition such as school athletic letters.
The activities and opportunities provided through the program help to reduce bullying and exclusion, promote healthy activity and interactions, combat stereotypes and stigma, eliminate hurtful language in schools and engage people in social activities that lead to personal growth.
Laura
2800+ Participating in AIA Unified Sports

8. AIA Unified State Basketball Competition

9. National Banner Recognition
A National Banner Unified Champion School is one that has demonstrated commitment to inclusion by meeting 10 standards of excellence. These standards were developed by a national panel of leaders from Special Olympics and the education community.
The primary activities within these standards include:
Unified Sports®
Inclusive Youth Leadership
Whole-School Engagement
Banner Unified Champion Schools should also be able to demonstrate they are self-sustainable or have a plan in place to sustain these activities into the future.

10. Achievement Standards
Unified Sports
Unified Sports is offered in at least 2 seasons throughout the school year.
Unified Sports participation occurs regularly over the course of each sport season or school term and includes competition.
An adult coach for each sport who has received training on Special Olympics Unified Sports
Unified Sports is officially recognized by the school in a similar style as other athletics/activities.
Inclusive Youth Leadership
A Unified Club or inclusive student group offers leadership opportunities/training for students with and without intellectual disabilities.
The Unified Club or inclusive student group meets at least once per month throughout the school year
The Unified Club or inclusive student group has an adult liaison and is officially recognized by the school in a similar style as other clubs/activities.
Whole School Engagement
At least two Whole School Engagement activities are implemented per school year
Students with and without intellectual disabilities are involved with planning and leading the awareness activities.
Sustainability
The school is currently self-sustainable and/or has a plan in place to sustain the three components (Unified Sports, Inclusive Youth Leadership, & Whole School Engagement) into the future.

11. Impact of Unified Sports from a student: Sarah Thompson

12. Unified Arts
As an additional way to promote inclusion and provide unique opportunities for people with and without intellectual disabilities to have opportunities during school and post-graduation, SOAZ will launch Unified Arts in the school year (Year 10)!
Unified Art
Unified Photography
Unified Dance
Unified Music
Unified Theatre
Unified Cooking
Unified Gardening
And more!

13. What tools are available to build a Unified Champion School?

14. Unified Sports Curriculum
Tools for Success
Unified Sports Curriculum
Adapted PE Curriculum that aligns with state standards. Based on Unified Sports annual schedule and the Inclusive Youth Leadership model. Allows practice to happen during school time in inclusive PE.
National Unified Sports website that houses stories and media to help promote inclusive sports.

15. Tools for Success Minute That Matters Spread the Word Campaign
A one minute fundraiser for any school’s Special Olympics program on campus. Change is collected from all classrooms for one minute. SOAZ sends out notice and flyers for schools to distribute.
Spread the Word Campaign
Schools are eligible to receive a Spread the Word to End the Word Campaign for March.

16.
Explore the website and how the site can help people share our message.

17. I want to get a school involved.
How do I move forward?

18. School & Community Impact
Unified Sports
teams
Youth
Activation
Committees
Engaged/Involved
Students
Schools: All Students & Teachers
All it takes is a unified team, or a group of youth leaders to jumpstart the amazing impact of Project UNIFY! Starts small, but can end up having an impact on the whole community.
Family & Friends
Communities, Companies, &
Governments
School
Community

19. Athlete story

20. Questions?

21. Thank you for your participation and support!