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Youth and Schools

Excellence in Action: Expanding UCS

The Special Olympics workshop, Excellence in Action: Expanding UCS, is a unique event designed to utilize the expertise of Special Olympics Programs around the globe to teach new Programs about Unified Champion School (UCS) programming. Over three days, the workshop convenes National Directors, Program staff, adult mentors, and young people with and without intellectual disabilities (ID) from Programs across the host Region to learn, share, and plan.


Over the past four years, Special Olympics has expanded UCS programming across the globe; achieving impressive results with six Programs reaching “Regional Hub of Excellence” status which is a recognition reserved for Programs with the highest level of programming. The six Programs are:

These Programs are poised to share their expertise with new Programs from across their Regions, expanding UCS programming and highlighting their excellence. These workshops build foundations, provide exchange of knowledge, and plan for expansion.

Participants learn the tools and strategies needed to launch and expand UCS programming through a comprehensive training provided by a UCS expert: the six Regional Hubs of Excellence. By bringing together Program leaders, mentors/educators, and young people with and without ID; Special Olympics Programs ensure all necessary implementors are trained and prepared for expansion.

The Excellence in Action: Expanding UCS workshop will focuses on three themes:

Foundations of Excellence: Understanding Unified Champion Schools

participants learn the foundational steps to building and expanding UCS programming and how each member of the team has a vital role.

Excellence Exchange: Learning from the Champions

participants learn directly from the Regional Hubs of Excellence and gain best practices.

Planning for Excellence: From Vision to Action

participants plan together as a team to take the information and knowledge gained to expand UCS programming across their country

In the future, Special Olympics will continue to provide support for programs through consistent training and technical assistance to ensure sustained success. The Excellence in Action: Expanding UCS workshops serve as the initial step for programs to gain insights from UCS experts, with the anticipation that they will bring this knowledge back home and effectively implement UCS programming. Leveraging the diverse skillsets of all participants, we aim to construct sustainable programming that fosters inclusion within education around the world.