Project UNIFY

Project UNIFY, is an education-based youth activation grant program funded through the US Department of Education, administered through Special Olympics, Inc. Project UNIFY’S goal is to activate youth in an effort to develop school communities where all young people are agents of change, fostering respect, dignity and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities. To realize this goal, Project UNIFY seeks to utilize existing programs and initiatives of Special Olympics in combination with programs in the school community. Project UNIFY has clear and defined characteristics:

school-community collaborations;
inclusive programming; and
youth empowerment and leadership.

Other characteristics important to the quality execution of our objectives include: sustaining relationships among young people with and without ID, effective communications, continuous improvement, and professional development.

Special Olympics Oklahoma (SOOK) Sooner Project UNIFY Partners Club

Partners Clubs: Partners Club is a unique school-based program that includes students with and without intellectual disabilities. SOOK Partners Club purpose is 1) to assist in developing Unified Sports in the schools; 2) help to educate others about the R-word and plan Spread the Word to End the Word (STWTETW) events, and 3) promote Special Olympics events and encourage non-participants, families, and the community to become Fans in the Stand. Partners Clubs may also plan inclusive social, academic, or recreational activities in the school or community. SOOK Partners Clubs are meant to encourage and develop youth leadership and activation.

·         Unified Sports:   Unified Sports is an initiative that combines approximately equal numbers of Special Olympics athletes and students without intellectual disabilities (partners) on sport teams for training and completion. Higher level skills, inclusion, and friendships are just a few of the positive outcomes.

·         R-word campaign: The goal of the R-word campaign is to rid schools, communities and the public in general of the negative use of the R-word [retard/retarded] as in “that’s retarded” or “what a retard”. March is Special Olympics world-wide month to Spread the Word to End the Word (STWTETW).

·         Fans in the Stands: No matter the sport or the level of competition all athletes want to hear the roar of the crowd and their friends and families cheering for them. Be a fan of acceptance, empowerment, dignity, courage, pride, confidence, and fun…become a Fan in the Stands!

Project UNIFY is a youth activation program.

While teachers and other school staff must be involved as coaches and advisors students must be empowered and encouraged to be leaders. Sooner ProjectUNIFY must ensure that youth with Intellectual Disabilities have constructive involvement in the planning & implementation of PU, such that it fosters greater sense of confidence, belonging and empowerment, and self-determination among these youth. Through the initiatives described above we strive to see more inclusive, accepting school climate. As much as possible, the school should be the unit of analysis, so projects should be crafted with the intent that we can measure impact in the school environment. Project UNIFY will encourage students with and without intellectual disabilities to take a leadership role to develop and expand diversity and inclusion within their school environment and their community. Project UNIFY will empower those students to become global advocates of change for acceptance and inclusion.