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

Jack Nagle

Jack Nagle: 2020 SONA Outstanding Coach

There are over 147,000 volunteer coaches across the SONA Region. These coaches dedicate their time towards providing quality sport opportunities for ...

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 ...

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 ...

Inclusion Heros

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. ...

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 ...

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. ...

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!

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 was shocked at how ...

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. She lost both of her parents at a young age. Tajha let out her ...

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. He previously played for the Buffalo Bills. Before his professional ...

Loretta Claiborne smiling at the camera.

Loretta: Our Inspiration

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