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�Learn, Lead, Work, Play …LIVE Unified!

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Welcome Unified Changemakers!

Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools brings together students with and without intellectual disabilities to create accepting school environments where every student belongs.

Unified Partners are:

    • Teammates
    • Co-Leaders
    • Friends
    • Co-workers
    • Healthcare providers

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About

Special Olympics

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Unified Champion Schools: Three Components

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UCS and You Create Social Inclusion: �Everyone Belongs, Everyone is Valued!

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Inclusion Tiles

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What is INCLUSION?

  • intentionally bringing people together.
  • both a practice and a mindset.
  • celebrates difference and diversity.
  • values and welcomes all as equal members and meaningful contributors.
  • extends equity, dignity, empathy and opportunity to all.

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Inclusion is about more �than sharing the same space.

PHYSICAL

all students have equitable access to all facilities, services and activities

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ACADEMIC

Learning is meaningful and accessible for all students within an inclusive and supportive environment

SOCIAL

all students belong & have the opportunities to develop authentic friendships

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SOCIAL INCLUSION

Social inclusion is when students with and without intellectual disabilities are engaged together in meaningful sports, social, leadership and academic opportunities so that they learn from each other and develop friendships.

Social inclusion brings those who otherwise might be excluded into the social environment of the school.

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Social Inclusion Through Unified!

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Social inclusion ensures that all students have the opportunity for to make friendships with a wide range of peers in a variety of settings. Students assume leadership roles to positively change their school and community. 

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Disability

Awareness

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Disable the Label�

        • Down Syndrome
        • Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome
        • PDD/ADHD
        • Dyslexia
        • Cerebral Palsy
        • Spina Bifida
        • Muscular Dystrophy
        • Brain Injury
        • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
        • Angelman’s Syndrome
        • Epilepsy

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Challenges and Disabilities

Intellectual/Developmental/Cognitive

Physical/mobility

Learning/processing

Communication/Speech & Language

Visual or Auditory

Mental and Emotional

Sensory

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What is an Intellectual Disability?

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Learning

and

Communication

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We all learn differently, what works for you?

Move & Experience

Touch and Feel

See

Listen & Talk

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Use a combination of approaches to teach, coach and communicate concepts, directions, rules and movements.

Special Olympics

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Visual: show what you mean

Special Olympics

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Tactile…the sense of touch

  • Hand over hand assistance
  • Demonstration/modeling
  • Textured balls
  • Modify environment
  • Extra time to feel equipment
  • Modify movements for students with physical challenges
  • Sensory sensitivity

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Verbal Communication

Talk so everyone can understand!

    • Slow down
    • Make eye contact
    • Give extra time to reply
    • Vocabulary: Use simple words
    • Repeat directions several times in different ways

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Don’t assume someone doesn’t understand; they may simply need more time to process and cannot speak as fast as you.

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Use Gestures to show what you are saying.��Sign language can be very helpful!

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Break it Down

  • Directions: Break directions into manageable chunks. 

     2-3 point, with repetition and cues.

  • Phase In: Introduce one movement, stage at a time, then combine them.
  • Rules and Schedules: Easy steps. Large print/ pictures, hung up for the student to see during the lesson.
  • Modify Game Play: Make periods or innings shorter.
  • Rest Periods: Include more rest periods.

Special Olympics

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Repetition and Consistency

  • Consistent words and prompts reinforce understanding.
  • Establishing a routine reduces anxiety.
  • Identify the same places to sit/stand.
  • Use a visual schedule to illustrate written and verbal instruction.
  • Establish clear and consistent rules, rewards and routines.

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Special Olympics

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Navigating Actions and Behaviors

    • Impulse control, disruptive to group
    • Social awareness and emotional maturity
    • Refusal to participate
    • Difficulty engaging with peers
    • Lack of spatial awareness and understanding of personal space

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    • Physically expressive, wanting to hug, kiss, touch hair
    • Difficulty listening
    • Unable to focus, attend to task, follow-through
    • Tires Easily
    • Lack confidence
    • Frustration at not being understood

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Simple “Do’s & Don’ts”

DO help everyone reach their full potential.

DON’T make assumptions about what someone can do.

DO set achievable goals and expectations so all succeed.

DON’T be afraid to ask Questions or for help. 

DO have fun and make friends!

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Equitable Contributors

Yes!

Teammates, Co-Leaders and Peers

No!

volunteers, helpers, not as a service experience where students without disabilities are recruited to help the students with disabilities.

All students are empowered to work with their peers, and together find ways to make the activities work so everyone in the class can participate successfully.

Special Olympics

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Unified: Everyone’s a Player, Everyone’s a Leader, Everyone is Valued and Belongs

In a Unified Champion School, youth create an inclusive school culture. 

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They welcome all, avoiding social and performance hierarchies between students with and without disabilities that counter authentic inclusion and reinforce stereotypes.

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They change the world one friendship at a time because they are the 

Unified Generation!

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Additional Video’s

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