CAS UNIFIED SPORTS PROGRAM
Unified Sports®, a registered program of Special Olympics International, combines individuals with intellectual disabilities (athletes) and individuals without intellectual disabilities (partners) on sports teams for training and competition. The Unified Sports Sports® program pairs an athlete with a partner of similar age and athletic ability. The two compete side-by-side, each one a meaningful and integral part of the Unified Sports® team.
In 1992, the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference and Special Olympics Connecticut created a partnership program, the CIAC/Special Olympics Unified SportsTM Sports® Program, to bring Unified Sports® to Connecticut's schools.
This program operates throughout the school year and closely follows the school calendar. Unified Sports® events are organized each sport season for elementary, middle and high school students. All public and parochial schools in Connecticut are invited to participate. At the elementary level, students engage in non-competitive athletic activities designed to develop skills in a variety of sports. At the middle and high school level, students compete in statewide tournaments in the sports of soccer, basketball, track, and volleyball. And as the program continues to grow, new sports are sure to be added!
What Makes Unified Sports Special?
By Lou Pear
Director of Unified Sports®
For the past 16 years, Special Olympics Connecticut and the Connecticut Association of Schools have been partners in providing interscholastic athletic opportunities for the special athlete and his or her partner. This year is no exception as athletes and their partners from across the state will participate in soccer, basketball, track, volleyball and bowling tournaments.
So what makes this so special for our Unified Sports® athletes? If you have never seen a Unified Sports® event, I recommend that you do so. In each of these tournaments, athletes and their partners compete with pride in themselves and respect for each other; and, in their hearts, they believe that they are varsity athletes competing for their school. And they are!
Unified Sports® is a uniquely enriching experience for the partners. Unified partners learn first hand how hard the athletes work to compete and feel indescribable joy as they watch their teammate's progress and succeed. Each year student partners submit essays for the Michael's Cup competition where they describe their special experience working with their athlete and how this experience has made them a better person, a more compassionate citizen and a respected student. Many students include their experiences as a partner in their college entrance essays. Since there is this special bond that has been formed, students are passionate about what they have experienced and will hold this special feeling close to their hearts forever.
To expand opportunities for middle level and elementary athletes and their partners, additional tournaments have been added at these levels. We have also begun to encourage teachers and occupational and physical therapists in our early childhood education programs to join a new and exciting athletic program called Young Athlete. To find out more about the Unified Sports® and Young Athlete opportunities, visit www.casciac.org/ciacunifiedsports.shtml. Through your effort, you will make the lives of your students enriched as you become a special person in their hearts.
Click to Download PSA Video
The Special Olympics Connecticut proudly sponsored by:
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How to get involved
To start a Unified Sports® Program in your school, you will need:
- an interested staff member who can become certified as the Unified Sports® coach;
- at least three students who meet the Unified Sports® eligibility criteria (NOTE: there is no minimum number of athletes required for participation in elementary Unified Sports® activities);
- available athletic equipment/facilities for team practices;
- medical and/or partner forms on file for each participant; and,
- the support of the principal and parents.
For complete guidelines on how to start a Unified Sports® program in your school, please contact:
Louis Pear, Unified Sports® Director
Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference
30 Reality Drive, Cheshire, CT 06410
Phone: (203) 250-1111 ext. 3904
Fax: (203) 250-1345
Email: lpear@casciac.org
Website: www.casciac.org/ciacunifiedsports.shtml
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Partisipating Towns/CIAC Unified Schools
Download a list of Partisipating Towns/CIAC Unified Schools
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Benefits
The CIAC/Special Olympics Unified Sports® Program provides a forum for positive social interaction between students with intellectual disabilities and those without. As athletes and partners train and compete together, they foster ties that develop into friendships both on and off the athletic field.
Participation in Unified Sports® leads to new friendships, improved self-esteem and positive changes in attitude, behavior, and performance.
The CIAC/Special Olympics Unified Sports® Program helps to foster an inclusive school community where the values of tolerance, patience and sensitivity are cornerstones.
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Elegibility
Athlete Eligibility
A person is considered to have intellectual disabilities for purposes of determining his or her eligibility to participate in Unified Sports® if that person satisfies any one of the following requirements:
- The person has been identified by an agency or professional as having intellectual disabilities as determined by their localities; or
- The person has a cognitive delay, as determined by standardized measures such as intelligent quotient or "IQ" testing or other measures which are generally accepted within the professional community as being a reliable measurement of the existence of a cognitive delay; or
- The person has a closely related developmental disability. A "closely related developmental disability" means having functional limitations in both general learning (such as IQ) and in adaptive skills (such as recreation, work, independent living, self-direction, or self-care). However, persons whose functional limitations are based solely on a physical, behavioral, or emotional disability, or a specific learning or sensory disability, are not eligible to participate in Unified Sport Sports® as athletes. They may, however, be eligible to volunteer for Unified Sports®.
Partner Eligibility
The desired objectives of a Unified Sports® experience are best fulfilled when partners on a team are individuals without disabilities. Even though an individual with a disability may make an appropriate partner, Special Olympics Unified Sports® teams should never be compromised solely of people with disabilities.
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Michael's Jewelers Unified Sports Awards
New Information coming soon!
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Partner Essays
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Press Coverage/Articles
The Special Olympics Connecticut gains positive awareness through those who help spread the word and through various media outlets. Below we have posted some wonderful articles that have been written about us in the local newspapers. Enjoy!
A Special Bond
The Hartford Courant, 10-31-2008
A Special Olympic Dream
Norwalk Citizen-News, 10-31-2008
Unified Track Team a Resounding Success
Huntington Herald, 6-11-2008
Unified Through Sports
Record-Journal, 5-27-08
Unified Athletes Use Opportunities to Test Themselves
Southington Citizen, 3-21-2008
Unified Sports Gives Atheltes with Special Needs a Great Opportunity
The Bristol Press, 3-13-2008
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