Special Olympics Capitol Hill Day
THE CHALLENGE
Nearly 8 million Americans live with intellectual disabilities (ID)—and over 5 million are 21 years or younger. Far too many continue to face social exclusion and barriers to adequate healthcare.
For over two decades, the U.S. government and Special Olympics have partnered to improve the lives of those with ID.
We need your continued support in Congress to work towards this goal.
OUR IMPACT
150,000+
athletes engaged in fitness programming
10,000+
Unified Champion Schools (UCS)
21.3M
UCS experiences for students annually
1M+
health screenings provided
150,000+
healthcare professionals trained
46,000+
pairs of corrective vision devices distributed
OUR ASK
Please include Special Olympics in your appropriations requests for Fiscal Year 2026. We are requesting:
$40,523,400
FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOLS® (UCS) PROGRAMMING FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
2x
For every federal dollar invested, Special Olympics delivers double the value to students, both with and without intellectual disabilities, through its UCS programming.
$3,000 – $5,500
Average cost to implement UCS programming in a school.
20,000
Number of U.S. schools Special Olympics wants to reach by 2030.
$22,000,175
FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS HEALTH PROGRAMMING FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION.
3x
For every federal dollar invested, our Special Smiles program delivers a threefold return on investment to the public.
$5.8M
Special Olympics' partners have provided nearly $4.2 million in corrective eyewear, and over $1.6 million in corrective hearing devices since 2022, all at no cost to our athletes.
500,000
Number of U.S. athletes Special Olympics wants to reach annually by 2030 through free health and fitness programming, screenings, and follow-up care.
OUR SOLUTIONS
Healthy Athletes Program
Our Healthy Athletes program helps people with ID of all ages stay active and improve their health through free health screenings in their communities across the United States. Special Olympics athletes have significantly lower healthcare usage and costs compared to those not involved in the program. Additionally, our athletes are 49% less likely to be diagnosed with depression and 15% less likely to be diagnosed with diabetes.
Unified Champion Schools® (UCS)
Our pioneering UCS program helps schools address the academic and social needs of students with ID. By creating opportunities for inclusive sport, classroom and community experiences, we achieve better outcomes for all students. Multi-year UCS programming is linked to higher standardized test scores, GPA, and graduation rates for both students with and without ID. 92% of UCS liaisons report reductions in bullying, teasing, and offensive language.
TESTIMONIALS
“There’s a lot more than making sure that students were being a part of a game. It’s health, it’s decrease in bullying, creating more inclusive school environments. It’s about the students creating the culture of inclusiveness.”
Terry Jackson, Program Specialist for UCS (2007 – 2022), U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs
“So, not only is the Special Olympics program beneficial to our students in the Exceptional Student educational program, it helps our general population to learn social skills. I think it encourages both populations as it encourages teamwork, it encourages team building, it builds self-esteem. And that, again, makes a positive impact in the educational environment.”
Michael Johnson, Principal, Fisher Magnet Academy, MI
“I’ve heard of teachers wanting to come here [Rio Rancho Elementary] because they see that sense of inclusion. It speaks a lot to the community of our school in general. Parents, once they come here – I’ve heard just how happy they are because of that sense [of inclusion] and their child feels happy, their child feels included and they are not seeing the same issues they were seeing at other schools.”
Katy Vigil, Educator, Rio Rancho Elementary School, NM
“I think my biggest takeaway was friendships. So many friendships over the years, some of which I still hold true today eight years later out of high school. When someone still consistently reaches out, it shows that you made an impact to them and that they value you as a true friend."
UCS Alum 2015, Pontiac High School, Pontiac, IL
“Special Olympics Unified Sports gave me the skills that I use now in my jobs. I learned skills like time management, the importance of respect, how to share and communicate well with others. I learned how to ask for help, and no matter what, to always play hard and work to be the best version of myself. I don’t think that I would have the same character and teamwork skills that I use in my job without Special Olympics.”
Jason Rogers, Workplace Readiness & Inclusion Coordinator for Special Olympics International
"Special Olympics Healthy Athletes saved my life back in 2004, thanks to Special Smiles screening I was able to get the right follow-up care after a screening to discover that I had oral cancer. If it went one month longer, I would not be alive today. Today I am cancer free and working for Special Olympics Southern California running the Athlete and Unified Leadership programs."
Dustin Plunkett, Manager, Outreach & Inspirational Speaker for Special Olympics Southern California & Special Olympics Southern California athlete
RESOURCES
VIDEOS
President Trump Welcomes Members of Special Olympics USA for the 2019 Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi
The White House
On Now
On Now
