Sports have the power to change attitudes by bringing people together. At Special Olympics BC, athletes with intellectual disabilities have a place to build confidence, overcome challenges, and be celebrated for their abilities. Special Olympics BC is committed to uniting communities to experience and participate in the life-changing power of sports.
Across the province, schools, individuals, and organizations are supporting Special Olympics BC’s mission of inclusion. These groups are working to make inclusion a part of everyday life, changing the game for people with intellectual disabilities.
Learn how people across the province are creating change for athletes with intellectual disabilities through year-round involvement!
Making a difference through class work
Collingwood Senior School in West Vancouver has made inclusion a key part of its teachings. Through the school’s Social Impact Lab program, students are invited to get involved with Special Olympics BC – North Shore as part of their class work.
“Spending time with the Special Olympics BC community, especially the athletes, has changed our students for the better,” says Brad Jolliffe, Assistant Director of Student Life at Collingwood School. “The relationships they have built with the athletes they meet and coach is a constant topic of conversation, pride, and joy.”
The journey began with student leaders Kiersa Shariff and Lukas Sojonky. "Kiersa and I decided to choose Special Olympics as our lab because of our previous involvement, along with how we've seen it change lives and better our community," Sojonky says.
Shariff and Sojonky led their classmates in volunteering at Special Olympics events and coaching track and field. This year, they collaborated to be hosts of the Special Olympics BC – North Shore March Madness 10th Annual Basketball Tournament.
This included planning a full-school assembly on Inclusivity in Sports and inviting athletes and other Special Olympics representatives to share their stories with the Collingwood School community.
“The lab has fostered a culture of compassion and engagement. Involving students through organizing, volunteering, and coaching has shown them the power of service and leadership,” Shariff says.
Students have become strong leaders of change through the Social Impact Lab and their work with Special Olympics.
“By embracing your role as an active community member, you not only enrich the lives of others but also your own,” Jolliffe says. “Every gesture of kindness has the power to transform lives and build a more compassionate world.”
Creating impact as a Special Olympics BC Unified Champion School
Schools are also making inclusion part of everyday life by becoming Special Olympics BC Unified Champion Schools. Unified Champion Schools can offer sports programs, leadership opportunities, and whole-school inclusion activities using resources and plans provided by Special Olympics BC.
On the sport side, Special Olympics BC supplies lesson plans and programs to help teachers and students coach Special Olympics Unified Sports teams in sports like 3-on-3 basketball, soccer, and floorball.
These initiatives create inclusive environments where students with and without intellectual disabilities can learn and play together, building friendships and encouraging positive social interactions.
“The most important thing is these kids. Creating something inclusive where all can participate together was the number one goal. I think we’ve accomplished that so far,” says Michael Viveiros, lead organizer of the SD43 Special Olympics BC Unified Sports Basketball Championships.
Currently, there are 23 schools across the province involved in Special Olympics BC Unified Sports programming. Schools in B.C. are embracing the joy and power of sport!
Teachers and administrators who have experienced the program say that training, competing, and playing together is a quick path to understanding, acceptance, and friendship.
Getting involved as a medical professional
Special Olympics BC always strives to create meaningful relationships with medical professionals and students, providing them with opportunities to learn how to support and care for individuals with intellectual disabilities. This creates a more knowledgeable and inclusive health-care system for all!
Join the more than 90,000 health-care providers and students worldwide who have volunteered with the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes program and changed the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.
Join us in building #InclusiveHealth!
Volunteer with Healthy Athletes
Participating in the Spread the Word campaign
Special Olympics champions throughout the province and around the world support the Spread the Word campaign in order to build inclusion and respect for people with intellectual disabilities. Everyone can make a difference by spreading the word for inclusion in your community, school, or workplace!
Creating change through volunteering
There are endless opportunities to make a difference for athletes with intellectual disabilities through volunteering. Special Olympics BC offers year-round sport, youth, and health programs for athletes with intellectual disabilities of all ages and a wide range of ability levels, in 55 communities across the province. Anyone can get involved as a volunteer in their community!
Volunteers make Special Olympics BC programs possible for thousands of deserving athletes with intellectual disabilities across the province. Get involved as a coach, in an administrative role, at a one-time fundraising event, and more!
Supporting Special Olympics BC’s year-round programs
Donors empower athletes with intellectual disabilities by ensuring the future of our year-round programs. None of the fun, games, and life-changing experiences would be possible without the support of our donors.
Every dollar raised for Special Olympics BC goes directly into maintaining, growing, and improving our programs and opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities. By donating online, becoming a sponsor, or creating your own fundraising initiative, you make a positive impact on your community and the thousands of lives touched by Special Olympics every day.