Youth Activation - Project Unify
Special Olympics Project UNIFY is an education-based project, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, that uses the sports and education programs of Special Olympics to activate young people across the U.S in order to promote school communities where all young people are agents of change – fostering respect, dignity and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities.
Special Olympics believes that through sports young people can make a difference in friendships, schools and communities. Project UNIFY began its third year of activities in the fall of 2010.
Project UNIFY initiatives include a host of core activities, both on the national and the grass-roots level. Local projects that meet Project UNIFY objectives are supported through a grant process for local Special Olympics Programs. Special Olympics is working with 42 U.S. State Programs conducting Project UNIFY school projects engaging more than 600,000 young people participating in projects in over 1,700 schools.
Special Olympics Project UNIFY incorporates Special Olympics sports and related activities, however, in this new way of operating (youth-centered, school focused) there is an enhancement in current programs and paradigms from a focus on events to committing to a movement advocating for youth as change agents now and in the future.
There are many programs in Project UNIFY for schools to get involved and youth to develop leadership skills (see below). Contact to discuss how you and your school can get involved with Project UNIFY!
Unified Sports® Programs & Clubs
Schools across Rhode Island are starting Unified Sports® Programs because of the inclusive and culture-changing opportunities it creates for everyone involved. For further information visit the Unified Sports® page, which includes videos and training materials on starting a school-based Unified Sports® Program: www.specialolympics.org/unified_sports.aspx
Spread the Word to End the Word
Spread the Word to End the Word is a campaign to raise awareness of the hurtful effects of the word "retard(ed)" and encourage people to pledge to stop using it. The national awareness day for 2012 is March 7th. Visit www.r-word.org to take the pledge today. Campaign resources are available on the r-word website and downloadable best practices documents can be found in the forms section of this website.
Be a Fan™ Campaign
You can become a fan of Special Olympics in many ways, here are a few:
- Become a fan of Special Olympics Rhode Island on Facebook
- Coordinate a "Fans in the Stands" project through a school class or club where you attend a Special Olympics competition to cheer on the athletes and teams.
For additional information contact Gerri Walter at gerri@specialolympicsri.org.