Background: In 2008, Special Olympics North America was awarded funding from the US Department of Education with a goal to activate communities where all young people are agents of change, who foster advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). To accomplish this goal, the organization formed “Project UNIFY,” a program that seeks to utilize existing state Special Olympics programs and initiatives in combination with schools to promote socially inclusive communities.
Some metrics for South Carolina’s 2012-2013 Project UNIFY programs include:
- 112 elementary, middle and high schools participating (and receiving program funding from SOSC) representing…
- 31 school districts
- 5000+ youth with AND without intellectual disabilities directly involved with inclusive sports programming as Special Olympics athletes, unified partners, young athletes, young athlete buddies, etc.
- Impacting 73,315 students statewide through awareness/advocacy campaigns; impacted just over 69,000 students in 2011-2012
Participating Schools engage students through the following programs, activities and initiatives:
- Inclusive Special Olympics program which will include at least one of the following…
Young Athletes Program: Early intervention program for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities in an inclusive environment, as youth without intellectual disabilities serve as mentors and coaches
Unified Sports™ program: Special Olympics sports programs where teams are made up of students with and without intellectual disabilities
Unified Recreation: Physical Education or other sport development program where youth with and without intellectual disabilities learn, exercise and train together in an inclusive environment (Unified PE course is approved and promoted by the SC Department of Education)
Unified Player Development: Inclusive Special Olympics sports program where the Special Olympics athlete is on a lower athletic and/or developmental level and is “coached” by a peer without intellectual disabilities (this includes the Special Olympics Motor Activities Training Program for profoundly or orthopedically disabled students)
- Get Into It: age-appropriate service-learning education and engagement tools for students and teachers designed to advance students’ civic knowledge and skill development, promote acceptance and understanding of people’s differences and to motivate them to become agents of change and advocates for and with all people
- School-wide Advocacy Campaigns, including R-Word, anti-bullying, and Respect campaigns, promoting acceptance of all differences
- Inclusive Student Organization/Clubs for Special Olympics where students with and without intellectual disabilities come together to raise awareness and advocate for Special Olympics and all individuals with intellectual disabilities
- Empower Youth as Leaders through involving youth in many aspects of Project UNIFY progression, direction and execution on the school, state and national levels
Participating schools are also invited to participate in the following programs or initiatives (not mandatory):
- South Carolina’s Youth Activation Committee for Project UNIFY: High School teachers will have the opportunity to nominate outstanding student volunteers and SO athletes to serve on this statewide council.
- Youth Activation Summit: One-day event engaging youth, with and without ID, through exciting activities, sessions (including leadership development) and sharing of ideas for Project UNIFY programming across the state.
- State House Rally for Project UNIFY where thousands of students from across the state come together for a positive demonstration in advocacy for individuals with intellectual disabilities
Project UNIFY aligns with important education initiatives:
- Service-learning
- Anti-bullying
- Character Education
- Health & Wellness; Anti-Obesity
- Changing School Climate
- Inclusive Collaboration
- Universal Design
For more information on how to get involved with Project UNIFY…
Contact: Barbara Oswald, Director of Youth Initiatives and Program Development
Special Olympic South Carolina
(802) 772-1555 ext.308
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