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1 Special Olympics Vermont

2013 Conference

What is Project Unify?

Project Unify grew out of Unified Sports to create the atmosphere of acceptance and inclusion throughout the school. It is now more than sports, it is an umbrella for a variety of activities that benefit ALL students of ALL abilities.

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INCLUSION!

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Project UNIFY is acceptance.Project UNIFY is unity. Project UNIFY is youth driven. Project UNIFY is friendship. Project UNIFY is fun. 4

3 Main ComponentsInclusive Sports

Soccer, Snow-shoeing, Bowling, Basketball, Bocce and Track & Field

Whole School Engagement‣ Get Into It Curriculum (series of lessons on inclusion and

equity) – great resource

‣ Spread the Word campaigns (stop using the R Word) – pledges, videos, t-shirts

‣ Fans in the Stands (students cheering on Unified Sports teams)

‣ Youth Rallies (assemblies, town meeting presentations)

Youth Leadership‣ Partners Clubs, Youth Activation Committees and Youth

Summits

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Unified Sports

A sports program developed and supported by Special Olympics which

combines typically developing students/adults “partners” with

Special Olympic eligible “athletes”on teams for competitive sports

participation.

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Get Into It

Online & printed resources that include lessons, activities, videos, athlete stories and supplemental materials.

At the core are age-appropriate lessons designed to be taught in the context of class periods.

Activities with ties to service learning are completed in a classroom or community setting, as part of a club, an afterschool activity or a community based event.

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R-Word Campaigns

The R-word is the word 'retard(ed)'. Why does it hurt? The R-word hurts because it is exclusive. It's offensive. It's derogatory.

Our campaign asks people to pledge to stop saying the R-word as a starting point toward creating more accepting attitudes and communities for all people.  Language affects attitudes and attitudes affect actions.  Pledge today to use respectful, people-first language.

R-Word Video10Special Olympics Vermont

Youth LeadershipYouth Activation Committee

Groups of students with and without ID from a school or community that work with SOVT to develop strategies and organize events to build a school community where all young people are agents of change.

They promote leadership in schools by advocating for the acceptance of all students.

YACs exist at the national, state and school level.

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A few statistics:

74% of students said PU was a positive turning point in their lives and they became more patient and learned to compromise

Two thirds of students said they learned they have things in common with their disabled peers

66% of educators/administers said PU helps raise awareness and increases opportunities for students w/ and without disabilities to WORK TOGETHER

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Thank you.