1. Massachusetts Unified Sports ®

2. Project UNIFY Is a strategy launched in 2008 for engaging schools and using tools & sports programs of Special Olympics Is youth-centered, school focused Encourages youth to be agents of change - fostering inclusion, acceptance, respect and human dignity for all students with and without intellectual disabilities Utilizes Unified Sports®, Inclusive Student Leadership and whole school awareness activities as a deliberate catalyst to transform and enhance a school or community Description 2

3. About Unified Sports Special Olympics introduced Unified Sports in 1984. Massachusetts was the first state! 19 of the 24 sports that Special Olympics MA offers are unified. Unified Sports Track and Field in the schools is currently in its 3 rd year in the Mid Wachusett Region. MASC High Schools can participate in Unified Recreational Bocce

4. Unified Sports Experiences Fan Development & Alliance Building

5. About Unified Track and Field There will be at least 13 teams this season maybe more MIAA Varsity Sport with 8 events Most schools have two practices a week and one meet a week Sometimes teams combine with the varsity track team during practices This sport reinforces the family aspect of a team Compete against the people with your speed not athlete or partner status. There will be a state meet on May 24. This is against all teams in the state.

6. Mid-Wach League Schools Algonquin-Westborough Fitchburg Grafton Groton- Dunstable Hudson Marlborough Milford Nashoba North Middlesex Oakmont Oxford Lunenburg Shrewsbury (New this year)

7. Unified Recreational Bocce Unified Bocce is offered through the student council organization in many schools (MASC) and in partnership with SOMA 2 nd Annual Bocce Tournament was held this past Nov. 17 th at Greenfield High School & Grafton High School. 18 schools participated between the 2 venues and another 17 schools came to watch as Fans in the Stands There are also many community level programs such as soccer, basketball, and volleyball.

8. Additional Unified Sports Offered Special Olympics, MA offers 24 sports through out the year. 17 unified sports are offered at the local program community level. They are: BasketballFlag FootballBowling VolleyballTennisSoccer SoftballTrack and FieldAquatics BocceCyclingGolf FishingSailingRoller Skating CheerleadingIce Skating 8

9. Fans In the Stands Meets are a fun time to show off practiced skills and have some competition. They are even more fun if there are fans in the stands to encourage you. One recommendation to spread the word – create tickets and have athletes and partners hand them to teachers and students in classes.

10. Our Stories

11. Warm-Up! Track stretches Volley Ball Challenge: Find a partner from another school and try to pass the volleyball around. The pair that has the highest amount of passes will get a prize! You will get one try to do this.

12. How to Get Started: If your school has a student council chapter and is connected with the MASC, talk with them to either get involved in a recreational bocce team or start a new team! If your school is interested in Unified Sports Track and Field, contact Patti Doherty (patti.doherty@specialolympicsma.org)patti.doherty@specialolympicsma.org

13. Questions?

14. Our Emails Lkoziel21@gmail.comLkoziel21@gmail.com Lexie Caitlynomalley10@gmail.comCaitlynomalley10@gmail.com Caitlyn Zachb1042@gmail.comZachb1042@gmail.com Zach drdukey0069@aol.comdrdukey0069@aol.com James *Feel free to email us with any other questions, ect.*

15. Video From State Meet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkjZM51d2Hc

16. Massachusetts Thank you!