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GET INVOLVED

With schools across the United States returning to learning in different ways, it is essential that there are adaptations available that help make Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® programming just as possible as before. When preparing for back to school, take a look at the below resources for tips on how schools can adapt to the “new normal” and ensure socially inclusive programming is still a priority.

JUMP TO:

Inclusive Youth Leadership

Special Olympics Unified Sports®

Whole School Engagement

Additional Resources

 

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Not sure how to adapt your Unified Club this year?
Check out these resources:

Unified Young Readers Club:
  • The Unified Young Readers resources are a great place to start for a younger audience and accompany Young Athletes play with storytime! The books and study guides are another tool for teachers to use as they address such topics as inclusion, awareness, friendship, bullying, and acceptance to audiences of both students with and without intellectual disabilities. Each book has a theme that relates to multiple state academic standards, and aligns with the precepts of positive school climate initiatives.

Inclusive Youth Leadership Training Facilitator’s Guide:
 
  • The activities outlined in the IYL Training Facilitator’s Guide can be used in either a virtual or in-person setting. Facilitators can be educators/club advisors, but these activities can also be used by a student facilitator. Devote some time in your Unified Club to learning about leadership styles, practicing leadership activities, and growing together! Check out this PPT version put together by Special Olympics Kansas for a more adaptable virtual version.
  • This accompanying Youth Engagement Resource is a workbook for students to use as they go through the IYL training. 

 Virtual Foundational Inclusive Youth Leadership Trainings:

  • For a more turnkey, structured learning opportunity to explore leadership skills with students, consider using the Foundational Inclusive Youth Leadership Training Courses. This 4-module course includes the following topics: Exploring Leadership, Me as a Leader, Co-Leadership, and Leading as a Team. These virtual trainings include interactive learning opportunities and a chance to hear from U.S. Youth Ambassadors about their own leadership skills!

Using the Inclusion Tiles


Share Your Story with the #UnifiedGeneration

  • Use these prompts and instructions to share your story with the Unified Generation! This can be done as a Unified pair, Unified Club or on your own! The story you share about the positive impact of inclusion can act as inspiration to other members of the Unified Generation. 

Video Discussion Guides


  • Explore the many videos on www.GenerationUnified.org with a critical eye using the Video Discussion Guides available here. Each guide corresponds with a video on GenerationUnified, and is linked within the guide. These discussion guides can be completed as a group or  individually, and can be a great conversation starter. 

 

USPORTS

Because of many restrictions with team sports and distancing guidelines, be creative with sport and fitness engagements! The below resources can be used to engage students and stay active, even with physical distancing.

Special Olympics Sport, Health, and Fitness Activity Options:

  • School of Strength Platform: School of Strength is a video workout series for individuals of all abilities, School of Strength features WWE Superstar Becky Lynch in the ring alongside six Special Olympics athletes and training them in a series of exercises to achieve varying levels of fitness.

  • Fit 5: Fit 5 Resources Series: The Fit 5 Guide, Fitness Cards, and Fitness videos have been valuable resources for Programs looking to expand their fitness programming and initiatives.The resources were designed to be utilized with flexibility, giving Programs the opportunity to integrate and implement the resources in a way that aligns with their current goals and objectives.

  • Young Athletes at Home: The Young Athletes at Home webpage includes resources for families to run Young Athletes at home, including the Family Flashcards, At Home Guide, Quick Tips, and Activity videos. This page has been updated regularly with new materials and also includes COVID-19 specific resource for families with young children from key SO partners. 

  • Staying Fit at Home BINGO: Staying Fit at Home can be FUN with BINGO! The boards are filled with links to workouts and other exciting activities. Each week, challenge yourself to fill out the ENTIRE board and have fun while doing it. You can also challenge and compete against your friends and family to stay connected and to keep everyone motivated.

  • Take a look through the Special Olympics Fitness Guide for Schools and the Unified Physical Education Resources to see if any activities could be useful to you and adaptable in your teaching/learning environment. 

Additional Sport and Fitness Activities from Partner Organizations:
  • Hip Hop Public Health: HYPE at Home - Make online lesson planning easy and search through all of our free research-based resources by grade level and content area. You can also sort through our resources by the National Health and Physical Education Learning Standards and the Healthy Out of School Time Standards.

  • BOKS at Home - Now, more than ever, kids need their endorphins and families and educators need our support. The BOKS team has created a central landing page of resources for communities around the globe to stay healthy and active.

  • Playworks: Play at Home - Kids need play to stay active and engaged with one another, and to support families and teachers. We want to share our expertise to help keep kids engaged in play during this time.

Some "Return to Play" Guidance from Sport Partner Organizations:

These guidelines are meant as considerations for state/local organizations' decisions on reopening procedures, and should not replace any guidelines already set in place by schools, districts, or states. 

 

 

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Social Media Challenges/Campaigns

Spread The Word: Inclusion

  • Spread The Word: Inclusion is working to provide opportunities for community and connection for people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, while continuing to work toward a more inclusive future.


Complete a Fitness Challenge as a School

  • One creative way that individuals have exercised school and/or community engagement is by completing Unified fitness challenges together while still distancing! Research virtual walks/runs or daily workout challenges in which students can set a goal, track their progress, and celebrate their wins together! Special Olympics Kansas's Virtual Unified Champion Schools Fitness Challenge is a great example of a campaign that could turn into a whole school engagement opportunity. Or, adapt one of the Special Olympics Unified Sports® opportunities on this page into a group challenge!

 

additional

  • "Turning Isolation Into Inclusion" Messaging: When students eventually begin to reintegrate into “normal” life, they may feel lasting effects of the social isolation attitude. Rather than feeling uncertainty and sensitivity, students must be encouraged to approach each other with an inclusive and compassionate mindset

  • "Inclusion for All" Messaging and Resources Toolkit: Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools strongly opposes acts of exclusion of all types and that includes acts of racism.  In collaboration with many voices from the Special Olympics community, the "Inclusion for All" toolkit can be used as a resource and discussion tool for youth and adults.

  • "Build Back Better, Build Back Inclusive" Resource: Special Olympics is pleased to announce a new resource for educators to commit to building back their school better and more inclusive during these unprecedented times. The Unified Champion Schools guide, “To Build Back Better, Build Back Inclusive,” covers important lessons learned from the UCS program to support educators across a variety of school settings.

  • Special Olympics International Return to Activities Guidance: On this page you will find the official Special Olympics International protocol and accompanying materials for guidance on Returning to Activities during the COVID-19 crisis, and additional resources to help during the crisis.

  • Guidance for Return to Young Athletes Activities: Additional guidance has been developed to support Special Olympics Programs, teachers and coaches with implementing in-person Young Athletes activities in Phases 1 and 2 of Return to Activities. The guidance highlights practical strategies for working with young children to implement physical distancing, wearing a mask and more to ensure the health and safety of our youngest participants.

  • Back to School Social Media Toolkit: This Back to School season is all about the #UnifiedGeneration. No matter if students are learning in-person or online, there are still ways for students to feel part of the #InclusionRevolution and to keep building an inclusive mindset.
  • Generation Unified YouTube: Check out the Generation Unified YouTube channel to find stories, trainings and videos directly from the Unified Generation.