The following is an excerpt from the article titled Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools is Ready for Back-to-School 2022 found on page 16 of Exceptional Parent Magazine .
“Back to school” means so many things. Back to friends, back to mentors, back to the field. But most importantly: back to being unified. As we prepare for another school year, Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® eagerly embarks on its 15th year of programming and equipping young people with tools to create sports, classrooms, and school climates of acceptance. While we continue to navigate the ongoing impact of global events, we remain committed to encouraging inclusive mindsets and its importance to the social and academic development of all students.
Our proven strategy systematically promotes social inclusion by bringing together young people with and without intellectual disabilities utilizing three components. Each component has a strong impact on students and faculty and together creates an environment that amplifies from the school into the community.