Let’s show the world what a ball can do: Creating a Unified generation in schoolKaren EriksonJon White

When you pick up a ball- and throw it to one another it’s amazing how things can

change

What inclusion is…and isn’t…

People seem to be much more comfortable around people with more ‘visible’ disabilities (physical or sensory disabilities), than they are around people with less visible disabilities (mental health conditions or learning disabilities).

Well over half (58%) of disabled people responding to a survey in 2013 said that they had not noticed any change in people’s attitudes towards them as a disabled person following the 2012 Paralympic Games – a major moment for disability in the UK.

Negative attitudes towards disabled people are widespread

Nearly four in ten (38%) people surveyed think of disabled people as less productive

than non-disabled people, over three quarters (76%) think of disabled people as needing to be cared for, and 13% think of

disabled people as getting in the way some or most of the time.

(Scope 2013)

Special Olympics Unified Play

Why do we need to get this ball into play?

Research has highlighted that ____ of young people in the UK with an intellectual/learning disability are bullied - that is 280,000 children. This bullying not only destroys young people’s capacity to enjoy life, but also devastates their opportunity to achieve at school, and limits their life chances

INTERNALISING NEGATIVE ATTITUDES“If [the young people I work with aren’t] dealing with

cultural shame or shame from their home life, they’re dealing with their own internalised shame. And there’s

not that visibility of disabled people for them – so who are the disabled people that they look up to – to see hope

from?” Emily, LondonExperts interviewed during the research were particularly keen to see more disabled people as role models and in

the leadership positions which are responsible for championing change. They felt that this would be

powerful in changing wider society’s attitudes towards disabled people

#PlayUnified

#Let’s Get The Ball Into Play

School Outcome How can Play Unified support schools in demonstrating its commitment to improving the educational, personal development and welfare of all young people?

•Helps all children and learners to make progress and fulfil their potential, particularly disabled children and learners and those

who have special educational needs

•Actively promotes equality and diversity, tackles bullying and discrimination and narrows any gaps in achievement between different groups of children and learners.

•Helps young people to develop the knowledge of how to keep themselves healthy, both emotionally and physically, including through exercising and healthy eating

•Promotes young people’s personal development, so that they are well prepared to respect others and contribute to wider society and life in Britain

What can Unified sports do for your school?

Special Olympics Unified Sports promotes inclusionthrough bringing together people with intellectualdisabilities (known as athletes) and people without(known as unified partners), to train and compete on thesame teams and in the same competitions. Unified Sportsparticipants can improve their physical fitness, sharpentheir skills, challenge themselves through competitionand have fun whilst participating in a variety ofsports, ranging from football to basketball to tennis.

All Unified Sports® players, both athletes and Unified partners, are of similar age and matched by sport skill ability.

Unified Sports® teams are placed in competitive divisions based on their skill abilities, ranging from training divisions (focused on skill-learning) to high-level competition.

‘Teachers take the educated risk to support the vision and insight of young people use Unified

Sports to create inclusive environments in their schools.’

‘Young people with and

without disabilities contribute

to a more inclusive and

positive ethos and

culture across the whole school.’

Educate – MotivateActivate

Unified Sport – Basketball England vision ‘For everyone in England to have the opportunity

to discover, enjoy and experience the game.’ Kieran “ I love the opportunity to play basketball

and make friendswith people from other schools, it’s fun”

Berkshire – 2 community clubs deploying coaches to 9 schools

Reading Rockets, Bracknell Cobras

Unified Sport – We are all more alike than different!

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“Be the change you wish to see in the World”- Ghandi

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“Unified Play is something that we liked the sound of (as it was different but similar to what we do), and really wanted to be involved in the pilot. It matches up to our priorities and our work. Ryan MoignardLiverpool FC Foundation Community Manager

PlayUnified at Clare Mount!

Our Unified Play team!

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Just playing as a movement

break!

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Intra Unified now ready for real play unified!!!

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“Let us all remember that when we ask, give or go the extra distance to fight for our

athletes, we are fighting for life itself… a soccer ball isn’t about a nice event for ‘them’ but rather an urgent movement designed to save lives and offer hope and dignity to all of

us.”Tim Shriver Chair, Special Olympics

Unified Sport

#PlayUnified

End the injustice, intolerance and inactivity of people with intellectual disabilities, by building a unified generation through sports.

If you are interested in Play Unified, and would like further information on how to get involved please visit www.playunified.org and www.youthsporttrust.org/playunified