Group of students from Hendrickson High School smiling under their newly received national banner.
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Unified
Beginnings

Every story has a beginning. Every beginning is a story. This month, watch as four different school communities bring inclusion to their campuses. 

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90% of educators felt UCS reduces bullying, teasing and use of offensive language in school.

Bullying Prevention Month 2021

October is Bullying Prevention Month. Every day, Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® works to end bullying and discrimination against people ...

Unified Talks: Identity with Warren High School

Unified Talks: Identity at Warren High School

In this episode of Unified Talks, we’ve journeyed to Warren High School in Southern California! Warren is a Special ...

Inside Inclusion: Identity

Inside Inclusion: Identity

Inside Inclusion is a monthly series where members of #UnifiedGeneration explore an important topic. We’re back! We asked students ...

Unified Talks: Identity with Nickelodeon

Unified Talks: Identity with Nickelodeon

Our friends at Nickelodeon team up with U.S. Youth Ambassadors Citlali and Troy in this episode of Unified Talks! ...

You Can Do It

Want to Become a National Banner Unified Champion School?

We’re so excited to announce the Class of 2021 National Banner Unified Champion Schools. These schools have demonstrated a commitment ...

A student holding a pencil, smiling in class.

By the Numbers: Unified Champion Schools®

This back-to-school season, Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® is ready to embark on another year of creating inclusion in schools ...

Back to School

Back to School 2021

Are you ready to get back to it? This year “back to school” means so many things. Back to friends, ...

Click this button to go to the International Day of Friendship video.

Celebrate International Day of Friendship

What does it mean to be a friend? On Friday, July 30, we celebrated International Friendship Day. Celebrate your friends every ...

Daniel and Addison talking over Zoom.

Special Olympics Kansas is Excited for Unified Bowling

Learn about the importance of Unified Sports in schools.

The image reads 'Global Day of Inclusion' and is in white text in front of many people dancing

Global Day of Inclusion

Today we’re celebrating the founding of Special Olympics with the Global Day of Inclusion! Over the past 53 years, Special ...

Ajene and Andy: Drawing with Nickelodeon. On the right is a picture of Ajene wearing a grey shirt and on the left is Andy smiling wearing a blue shirt

Drawing with Nickelodeon!

“This is the best day of my life – I’ll never forget it.“ Recently, Nickelodeon Storyboard Artist, Andy, and Special ...

The text reads

What does IDD mean?

What does IDD mean? Jordan and Steven, U.S. Youth Ambassadors from Special Olympics Georgia, break down the facts! ⠀

Eunice Kennedy Shriver

Happy Birthday, Eunice Kennedy Shriver!

Today we celebrate what would have been the 100th birthday of our founder, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Mrs. Shriver’s vision ...

Summer Fun with U.S. Youth Ambassadors. This image is the thumbnail for a video that shows what the U.S. Youth Ambassadors have been up to this summer.

Summer Fun with the U.S. Youth Ambassadors

Through sport and other fun ways, Special Olympics U.S. Youth Ambassadors are staying connected this summer. Hear how!

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All About Families with the U.S. Youth Ambassadors

Family > Everything The #UnifiedGeneration is all about the importance of family. Not just the family you’re born into ...

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Unified Talks: Reflections with Evie and Joy

U.S. Youth Ambassadors Evie and Joy have been spreading inclusion since elementary school. In this episode of Unified Talks, ...

Inside Inclusion: Reflections Thumbnail

Inside Inclusion: Reflections

Inside Inclusion is a monthly series where members of #UnifiedGeneration explore an important topic. This month on Inside Inclusion, we ...

National Best Friend Day

Friendships are important to the Unified Generation. National Best Friends Day is the perfect time to tell your best friend ...

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Unified Talks: Reflections with Will

Will is a former U.S. Youth Ambassador from Virginia. Over the years, he has had time to look back ...

Favorite Fitness Activities with the U.S. Youth Ambassadors

Favorite Fitness Activities with the U.S. Youth Ambassadors

Check out some of the favorite ways our Special Olympics U.S. Youth Ambassadors stay fit! Whether it is running ...

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Unified Talks: Creating an Attitude of Gratitude with Steven and Jordan

In this episode of Unified Talks, Steven and Jordan, U.S. Youth Ambassadors from Georgia, show you different ways you ...

Inside Inclusion: Appreciation

Inside Inclusion: Appreciation

Inside Inclusion is a monthly series where members of #UnifiedGeneration explore an important topic. In this month’s edition, U....

Unified Talks: Appreciation with Elyssa and Amanda

Unified Talks: Appreciation with Elyssa and Amanda

Elyssa and Amanda, U.S. Youth Ambassadors from Southern California host this Unified Talks. The theme of this episode is ...

Thank you, teachers!

Teacher Appreciation Day 2021

On May 4, 2021, we celebrated Teacher Appreciation Day. To educators everywhere: It’s been a tough year, but your dedication has ...

Unified Talks: Unified Leadership

Mini-Unified Talk: Unified Leadership

Meet Mackenzie and John from Special Olympics Colorado! They are the first Unified Co-Chairs of any Special Olympics Program Board ...

Jennifer LaCapra

Jennifer LaCapra: 2020 SONA Outstanding Coach

There are over 147,000 volunteer coaches across the SONA Region. One of these coaches is Jennifer LaCapra from Special Olympics Connecticut. ...

Unified Talks: Courtney and Ella

Unified Talks: Leadership with Courtney and Ella

L.E.A.D. with Courtney and Ella from Special Olympics New York!

Jack Nagle

Jack Nagle: 2020 SONA Outstanding Coach

There are over 147,000 volunteer coaches across the SONA Region. One of these coaches is Jack Nagle from Special Olympics North ...

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Inside Inclusion: Leadership

Troy and Citlali chat with student-athletes from across the country about leadership!

Unified Talks: Learn to Lead with Nickelodeon!

Unified Talks: Learn to Lead with Nickelodeon!

Nickelodeon joins us for a special episode!

Special Olympics Unified Sports Memories

Favorite Special Olympics Unified Sports® Memories

What's your favorite Unified Sports memory?

Unified Talk: Connections with Jazlyn and Kyle

Unified Talks: Kyle and Jazlyn Stay Connected

The theme of this year’s Spread the Word campaign: CONNECTIONS. The last year has been a powerful reminder of ...

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Inside Inclusion: Spread the Word

  Inside Inclusion is a monthly series where members of #UnifiedGeneration explore an important topic. This month is the Spread ...

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International Women’s Day 2021

This International Women’s Day, we celebrate women in the inclusion movement. These strong women lead, inspire, and dream. Watch ...

Spread the Word with Natalie and Jordan

Unified Talks: Spread the Word with Natalie and Jordan

In this week’s episode of Unified Talks, Natalie and Jordan, U.S. Youth Ambassadors from Utah, talk about how ...

Healthy Snacks with the Unified Generation

Healthy Snack Ideas from the U.S. Youth Ambassadors

Looking for a fun and healthy snack to make this weekend? The Special Olympics U.S. Youth Ambassadors have you ...

Unified Talks: Gracie and Katherine

Unified Talks: Empowering Others

What do Loretta Claiborne, Ibtihaj Muhammad, Eddie Yarbrough, and Britney Bautista have in common? They empower others! In this episode ...

Inside Inclusion: Empowerment

Inside Inclusion: Empowerment

Inside Inclusion is a monthly series where members of #UnifiedGeneration explore an important topic. This month is the empowerment edition ...

Unified Talks: Katherine

Unified Talks: Empowerment with Katherine

In the latest episode of Unified Talks, Katherine, a U.S. Youth Ambassador from Kansas, talks about the power behind ...

Sam and Parker from Special Olympics Kentucky

How Unified Track Brought Sam and Parker Together

Meet Sam and Parker from Special Olympics Kentucky. Together, the pair have competed over the last 6 years. As a result, ...

What are the U.S. Youth Ambassadors looking forward to in 2021?

Our U.S. Youth Ambassadors Are Ready For 2021!

There’s a lot to look forward to in 2021! Let’s hear from our U.S. Youth Ambassadors about what ...

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Unified Talks: Self-Care Strategies with Jackson

The latest episode of Unified Talks features Jackson, a U.S. Youth Ambassador from Texas. Jackson explores different strategies for ...

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Inside Inclusion: Wellness

Inside Inclusion is a monthly roundtable series that features members of the #UnifiedGeneration coming together to explore an important topic. ...

Unified Talk: Wellness with Sam and Max

Unified Talk: Wellness with Sam and Max

Our latest episode of Unified Talks features Sam and Max, U.S. Youth Ambassadors from Michigan. During this episode, the ...

2020

Looking Forward to 2021!

This year, we’ve been apart. But we’ve adapted and we’re still Unified. Together, let’s make 2021 the ...

All About Justice

What Does Justice Mean To You?

Justice is a core value of the Unified Generation.

Unified Talk: Lexi and Rachelle on the Importance of Relationships

Unified Talk: Lexi and Rachelle on the Importance of Connections

In this episode of Unified Talks, Lexi and Rachelle, U.S. Youth Ambassadors (AZ). Watch as the two explore different ...

Former NFL running back Jamaal Charles gives high-fives to a group of Special Olympics athletes.

Jamaal Charles on Inclusion and Diversity

Jamaal Charles was in the third grade when he discovered that he had a learning disability. When he was in ...

Inside Inclusion: Connections YouTube Video Thumbnail

Inside Inclusion: Connections

Inside Inclusion is a monthly roundtable series. The series features members of the #UnifiedGeneration who come together to explore an ...

Unified Talk: Connections with Citlali and Troy

Unified Talk: Connections with Citlali and Troy

This episode of Unified Talks features Citlali and Troy, U.S. Youth Ambassadors from Northern California. The pair talks about ...

321 Coffee

Learn the Story of 321 Coffee

It all began at a Unified flag football game at NC State University. The 321 Coffee team shared a dream of ...

Unified Talks: Elise and Sophia Anton

Unified Talks: The Anton Team On Being A Good Teammate

Sisters Elise and Sophia Anton, both Special Olympics U.S. Youth Ambassadors from Colorado, talk about what means to be a good teammate.

Inside Inclusion: Teamwork

Inside Inclusion: Teamwork

Sophie and Joey from Nebraska talk to members of the NCAA DIII SAAC about teamwork!

U.S. Youth Ambassadors talk about who their Inclusion Hero is

Who Is Your Inclusion Hero?

Is there someone in your life who motivates you to be more inclusive? This month, we asked our U.S. ...

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Unified Talk: Tajha Talks Teamwork

Tajha shares with us why being a part of a team is important & the skills it gives us.

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Unified Talk: Britney Explains What It Means To Be An Upstander

In this episode, Britney talks about belonging but in a different way.

Generation Unified 2020

Generation Unified 2020: Meaningful Inclusion in a Virtual Classroom

Generation Unified 2020 is a live virtual kick-off event. This event provides tutorials and activities. Plus, a look at the special ...

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Unified Talk: Tajha Talks Belonging

Learn what it means to feel a sense of belonging with Tajha!

Daina Shilts

Find Your Sense of Belonging with Unified Champion Schools

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Growing up, Daina Shilts did not have a Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools experience. ...

A collage image featuring several of the Special Olympics U.S. Youth Ambassadors

Say Hello to the U.S. Youth Ambassadors

30 young leaders make up the Special Olympics U.S. Youth Ambassadors. These are leaders with and without intellectual disabilities. Their ...

World Teacher Day

World Teachers’ Day

We celebrate teachers for many reasons. A teacher can inspire, support, and make a difference. Because of this teachers impact ...

A group of Hendrickson High School students hugging.

Unified Beginning: Hendrickson High School

Hendrickson High School in Texas is a 2019 ESPN Top 5 Special Olympics Unified Champion School. There is a lot to achieve ...

A student from Copper King Elementary puts her arm around another student.

Unified Beginnings: Copper King Elementary School

A lot went in to bringing Unified Champion Schools programming to Copper King Elementary School. It is because of a ...

A student hugs a teacher from Sayreville School District in New Jersey.

Unified Beginnings: Sayreville School District

See how Sayreville became a Unified Champion School district.

Zoie, a youth leader from Fife High School, WA.

Unified Beginnings: Zoie

Learn how Zoie started the #InclusionRevolution at her school.

Tajha Ilerant smiling.

Discover Your Moment

Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® is supported by the U.S. Department of Education. Because of this program, students with ...

An Image of Loretta Claiborne smiling with her eyes closed. She is in black and white but there is a colorful background behind her.

Happy Birthday, Loretta Claiborne!

Every year on August 14, we celebrate Loretta Claiborne’s birthday. Loretta is the Chief Inspiration Officer of Special Olympics. She ...

Kate takes a photograph of her dog, a chocolate labrador.

#WorldPhotographyDay

Kate’s photography has taken her on unforgettable journeys. For World Photography Day on August 19, 2020, Kate gave us some of ...

Group of students posing in front of a school bus.

#InternationalFriendshipDay

Lasting friendships are at the core of the Unified Generation. That is why on July 30, 2020, we celebrate International Friendship Day. ...

President George Bush signs into law the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 on the South Lawn of the White House. L to R, sitting: Evan Kemp, Chairman, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Justin Dart, Chairman, President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. L to R, standing: Rev. Harold Wilke and Swift Parrino, Chairperson, National Council on Disability, 07/26/1990.

30th Anniversary of the ADA

In 1990 the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law. As a result, there was progress made for the rights ...

Eddie Yarbrough seated in a high school classroom.

Eddie Yarbrough is a Champion Ambassador

Eddie Yarbrough is a Defensive End for the Minnesota Vikings. He is also a Special Olympics Champion Ambassador. Eddie was ...

Unified athletes pose for a photograph.

Making the Case for Inclusion: CDC Report

There are different ways to bring inclusive sports into schools. One of these ways is using resources from Unified Physical ...

The first Special Olympics was held in Chicago.

Special Olympics Celebrates 52 Years

The first Special Olympics was in 1968, it was the start of a movement. Special Olympics grew to a global organization ...

Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver delivers a speech at a podium.

Celebrating Mrs. Shriver

On July 10, we celebrated Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s birthday. Mrs. Shriver is the founder of the Special Olympics movement. Her ...

Collage of U.S. Youth Ambassadors who are seniors.

Happy Graduation from the #UnifiedGeneration

As the school year comes to an end, hear from our seniors.

A student in his cap and gown.

#Graduation2020

The Unified Generation got to celebrate #Graduation2020 with Facebook and Instagram!

Teacher Diane P. with her students from Burnet Middle School.

Teacher Appreciation Day 2020

On May 5, 2020, we celebrated Teacher Appreciation Day. There are thousands of teachers at the forefront of the Special Olympics movement. ...

Miami Southridge Senior High School receiving their national banner.

ESPN Top 5 Class of 2019

Take a look back at the ESPN Top 5 Unified Champion Schools from 2019-2020.

Shaniya and her brother looking off into the distance.

#UnifiedGeneration

Meet our incredible youth leaders. These young leaders with and without intellectual disabilities come together to spread inclusion! They are ...

National Siblings Day

Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® celebrates siblings. We celebrate these siblings because they continue to power our movement. They do ...

U.S. Youth Ambassador Tajha (right) posing with her two sisters.

International Women’s Day 2020

Celebrate International Women's Day with the Unified Generation!

Megan and Patrick smiling at the camera.

Megan and Patrick’s Moment

Watch Patrick and Megan’s Moment and learn about their shared inspiration: their sister Jenni.

Two members of an SO College waiving while holding their National Banner.

Inclusion Weekly: National Banner Presentation

Welcome to the final episode of “Inclusion Weekly”. In this episode, we rejoin the members of the Colorado State University ...

Tanner looking off into the distance.

Tanner’s Moment

Tanner gained a positive outlook on school and life after joining Unified Sports.

Group of students from the Colorado State University College Club.

Inclusion Weekly: College Clubs

Special Olympics College Clubs are a great way to make college more inclusive.

A close up photo of Rashaan.

Rashaan’s Moment

After moving around during childhood, Rashaan found his passion for basketball. But it wasn’t until college where he found ...

U.S. Youth Ambassador Sydney working in her transition program.

Inclusion Weekly: Inclusive Workplace

Sydney hosts this week’s “Inclusion Weekly” episode. Watch as she explains her transition from high school to getting a ...

Students Donzel and Alyson posing for a picture during Unified Physical Education class.

Inclusion Weekly: Unified Physical Education

Meet Donzel, U.S. Youth Ambassador from Illinois. Donzel shares the benefits of Unified Physical Education. Unified Physical Education is ...

Two soccer players working together to dribble the ball down the field.

Inclusion Weekly: Unified Sports

Meet Sydney, U.S. Youth Ambassador (MA). In this week’s episode, Sydney interviews students at her former high school. ...

Jenni and Jason smiling at the camera.

Jenni’s Moment

Jenni’s younger brother Jason has Down syndrome. Growing up, Jason was one of the first students with Down syndrome ...

A youth leader points at a poster he's been working on.

Inclusion Weekly: Inclusive Youth Leadership

In this episode, we check back in with Tajha. She explains what Inclusive Youth Leadership means. This is when students ...

A group of students from Pontiac High School in Illinois posing for a picture.

Inclusion Weekly: Whole School Engagement

Students from Pontiac High School, Illinois, host this week’s “Inclusion Weekly”. During this video we learn about Whole School ...

U.S. Youth Ambassador Tajha walks the halls of her high school with fellow students.

Inclusion Weekly: What is UCS?

Tajha, U.S. Youth Ambassador from Florida, hosts this week’s “Inclusion Weekly”. The purpose of this video is to ...

Claude and Catherine Dayas-Tokoto sitting in their home looking into each other's eyes.

Catherine and Claude’s Moment

Catherine and Claude Dayas-Tokoto emigrated from Cameroon to the United States. They did this in the hope of providing a ...

Deran, a high school athletic director from North Carolina looks off into the distance.

Deran’s Moment

When Deran was younger, he had a childhood friend named Jenny. When Jenny passed away, Deran felt shocked at how ...

Noah and his best friend Conrad hanging out.

Noah’s Moment

Growing up Noah and had an estranged relationship with his brother Sam who has an intellectual disability. The brotherly bond ...

Riley a student from Ponaganset High School, dressed in spirit gear and smiling.

Ponaganset Senior Projects

At Ponaganset High School, there is a tradition for seniors. Each senior presents on a topic that has significant meaning ...

Tajha, a US Youth Ambassador from Florida smiles for the camera while standing in front of a lake.

Tajha’s Moment

Tajha Ilerant is from Immokalee, Florida. After losing both of her parents at a young age, she let out her ...

Sidney and Britney a Unified pair from Hawaii smile for the camera.

Be The Change

Britney and Sidney are from Special Olympics Hawaii. They attended the Youth Leadership Experience at the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games ...

Cody,a player on the Clovis North Unified soccer team posing for the camera.

Meet #33 – Cody

There are many great things about Cody. First, Cody is an awesome soccer player and artist. Plus he is a ...

Sydney, a player on the Clovis North Unified soccer team posing for the camera.

Meet #22 – Sydney

Sydney is one of the Captains of the Clovis North soccer team. Joining the team gave Sydney a sense of ...

Sean, a player on the Clovis North Unified soccer team posing for the camera.

Meet #25 – Sean

Sean always played sports growing up. But, he didn’t find his community until he joined the Clovis North Broncos. ...

Young man with his team reaching his hand up in the air in triumph.

Clovis Unified

This is the story of the Clovis North High School Unified Interscholastic Soccer team. Interscholastic teams play in Unified Champion ...

Two students from Ponaganset High School congratualting each other during a Unified Sports game.

Ponaganset HS: A Case Study

It takes a lot of work to be a Special Olympics National banner Unified Champion School. To do this, a ...

Noah from Mead High School smiling as he holds a sign that says

Mead HS: A Case Study

Mead High School is a Unified Champion School in Longmont, Colorado. The school has grown exponentially over the decade since ...

Special Olympics athlete Daina Shilts looking pensively into the distance.

Daina’s Powerful Story

Daina Shilts was bullied, teased and excluded when she was in school. Through Special Olympics, she found her love of ...

Students from Old Bridge Paige and Bella looking at each other smiling.

Live Unified: Inclusive Youth Leadership

There are 3 components that make a Special Olympics Unified Champion School. One of them is Inclusive Youth Leadership. An example ...

Alamo Heights students Carrie and Dominic speaking at a podium.

Alamo Heights HS: A Case Study

Alamo Heights High School is in San Antonio, Texas. This school is a Unified Champion School. Alamo Heights High School ...

Eddie Yarbrough smiling as he walks down the hallway of his high school.

Eddie Yarbrough: From Unified Champion Schools to the NFL

Eddie Yarbrough is a Defensive End for the Minnesota Vikings. Before, he played for the Buffalo Bills. Before his professional ...

Play Unified: Unified Sports & Unified PE

There are 3 components of a Special Olympics Unified Champion School. An example of one is Special Olympics Unified Sports®. This ...

A group of students from Alamo Heights High School waving to the camera on a football field.

The Revolution is Inclusion

As spoken by students of Unified Champion Schools and members of the Unified Generation: “We are not just athletes. We ...

Brothers Isaac, Isaiah and Ivan Garcia are sitting on the Washington High School basketball court looking into the distance.

Washington HS: A Case Study

Washington High School is in Phoenix, Arizona. This school is a Special Olympics Unified Champion School. Through Unified Sports and ...

Students sitting in the bleachers of an assembly as two students face them.

Learn Unified: Whole School Engagement

There are 3 components of a Special Olympics Unified Champion School. An example of one is Whole School Engagement. This is ...

Kate DeCotis and a classmate sitting on the bus. Kate is smiling at the camera.

There is Nothing Kate Can’t Do

Through Kate’s story, we see what meaningful inclusion looks like from an early age. She is fully embraced as ...

Loretta Claiborne smiling at the camera.

Loretta: Our Inspiration

When Loretta Claiborne was a young girl, she felt isolated. She worried about what her future would hold. As she ...

Two students about to high-five in a school gym.

Special Olympics Celebrates 50th Anniversary

In this video,  watch how Special Olympics has impacted different people throughout the movement. First, Loretta Claiborne talks about her ...

Evan and Jay Hallberg walking down the hallway of Ponaganset High School.

Evan & Jay: Brothers

Evan and Jay Hallberg are brothers. The two attended Ponaganset High School in Rhode Island. Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® ...