Special Olympics BC Unified Champion Schools®
Play Unified. Learn Unified. Live Unified.
Special Olympics BC is dedicated to working with schools and districts across the province to build school communities that include and empower students with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics BC Unified Champion Schools® programs in B.C. offer a unique combination of sports, education, and leadership activities to equip young people with tools and training to create climates of acceptance and inclusion throughout their sports, classrooms, and whole schools.
Special Olympics BC Unified Champion Schools activities and opportunities are proven to reduce bullying and exclusion, promote healthy activity and interactions, combat stereotypes and stigma, and engage students and staff in sport and social activities that lead to personal growth.
The program creates school climates where students with disabilities feel welcome and routinely included equally in all activities, opportunities, and functions.
Special Olympics BC Unified Champion Schools® have the option of offering up to three types of programming. Special Olympics BC provides ready-made resources to help educators, staff, students, and champions run each type of programming in ways that best suit each individual school.
Sport programming
Models:
1. Special Olympics Unified Sports® where students with and without intellectual disabilities build inclusive communities and attitudes by training and competing together
2. Traditional Special Olympics programming where students with intellectual disabilities show their abilities on the fields of play
Sports:
1. 3-on-3 basketball
2. Soccer
3. Floorball
4. Additional sports can be determined by school/district interest
Whole-school engagement with inclusion programming:
Inclusive youth leadership programming
There are many different ways to nurture youth leadership in the school setting. Ensuring that various leadership roles are inclusive to all students who have ranging skill sets, abilities, and perspectives will greatly enhance efforts to create and sustain change within the school and the community.
What is Special Olympics Unified Sports®?
Special Olympics Unified Sports programs bring together students with and without intellectual disabilities to train and compete as teammates.
Ready-made lesson plans and programs are provided by Special Olympics BC to empower a teacher or student to coach Special Olympics Unified team in 3-on-3 basketball, soccer, and/or floorball.
Teams practice and compete together, just like any other school team, college intramural, or community recreation program.
How do Special Olympics Unified Sports benefit schools?
Special Olympics Unified Sports was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.
Special Olympics Unified Sports empowers youth with and without intellectual disabilities to change the world through sports. Students with and without intellectual disabilities make new friends, develop skills and self-esteem, and break down barriers through inclusive sport and learning experiences.
What happens in schools with Special Olympics Unified Sports?
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Students without intellectual disabilities build skills and lead the way for inclusion with their understanding and positive attitudes toward their peers with intellectual disabilities.
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Students with intellectual disabilities feel included, respected, and seen for their abilities.
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School communities are stronger and more inclusive.
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Special Olympics BC is known as a source of joyful, inclusive sport programming and social benefits both in schools and in communities across the province year round.
Find out more today to play unified and change lives, including yours!