Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools (UCS) is a strategy that aims to promote social acceptance in schools through sports and education. The program is available for schools from pre-K through college.
UCS uses three main components to achieve its goals:
- Special Olympics Unified Sports: Special Olympics Unified Sports® is a school program that combines individuals with intellectual disabilities (athletes) and individuals without intellectual disabilities (partners) on sports teams for training and competition. Athletes and partners compete alongside one another in a meaningful and integral role on the Unified Sports team.
- Youth leadership: Students with and without disabilities work together on leadership opportunities.
- Whole school engagement: The entire school community hears messages of acceptance. This can look like pep rallies where Unified Sports teams are recognized, banner signing events, respect weeks, and more!
The program aims to create school environments where all students feel accepted, respected, and included.
All activities and events are Unified, meaning that approximately equal numbers of students with ID (athletes) and students without ID (partners) participate. Regardless of their role, all individuals participate meaningfully and to the best of their ability.
Who can participate?
All schools are encouraged to participate!
Funding is typically available to public and charter schools. Further down this page, you can find information on funding levels and what expenses may be covered by the grant.
The SONJ UCS grants are intended as seed money to get your Unified programs and activities up and running. The district is expected to absorb these costs within 5-7 years.
What’s expected of UCS schools?
- Implement all three components of UCS (this isn’t as difficult as it seems, promise!)
- Complete the required reports, trackers, and surveys
- Have at least one representative from your school participate in the required monthly meetings
- Adhere to reimbursement criteria and guidelines
- High Schools are strongly encouraged to attend at least one Youth Summit per year
How to get started
Because our agreements are with schools, our contact should be with school-based staff. If you’re a parent, student, or community member, please share this information with a staff member at your school so they can get started. If you’re school-based staff, visit our prospective schools’ dashboard for more information.
Contact us for more information at UCS@SONJ.org