Unified Champion Schools®
What is a Unified Champion School®?
The Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® (UCS) strategy is creating a Unified Generation that is leading the charge to create communities in which all people are included and accepted. A UCS brings together and empowers students with and without Intellectual Disabilities (ID) through education and sports-related initiatives.
The three components of the UCS model (Unified Sports & Fitness, Inclusive Youth Leadership, and Whole School Engagement) offer a unique combination of effective activities that equip schools with the tools and training to create a climate of acceptance. These components are designed to be woven into the fabric of the school and thoughtfully integrated together.
The Core of Unified Champion Schools®
Each of the three UCS components seeks to build and foster inclusive mindsets through a different part of the school. Click each component below to learn more!
Unified Sports & Fitness
Inclusive Youth Leadership
Provides opportunities for all students in the school to participate in inclusive and accepting school-wide activities such as the Spread the Word Inclusion Campaign, Fans in the Stands, Kindness Pledge, Polar Plunges, and more!
Whole School Engagement
Peer mentor students work together with individuals with intellectual disabilities to lead and plan advocacy, awareness, and other inclusive activities. Opportunities for this include: Unified Clubs, Unified Student Council, and Young Athletes.
Who can become a Unified Champion School®?
Public, Charter, and Private Schools have all the same opportunities to be a Unified Champion School®!
- Young Athletes
- Lunch Buddies
- Young Athletes
- Unified Readers
- Lunch Buddies
- Unified P.E.
- Spread the World Inclusion Week
- Unified Sports Day
- Unified Student Council
- Pep Rallies
- Fans in the Stands (Upper Grades)
- Lunch Buddies
- Unified P.E.
- Down Syndrome/Autism Awareness Day/Week
- Spread the Word Inclusion Week
- Unified Sports Day
- Unified Clubs
- SOfit
- Fit5
- Polar Plunge
- Unified Assemblies
- Unified Intramural Sports
- Best Buddies
- Youth Activation Committee
- Unified Student Council
- Youth Leadership Clubs
- Pep Rallies
- Fans in the Stands
- Pigskin Madness
- Lunch Buddies
- Unified P.E.
- Down Syndrome/Autism Awareness Day/Week
- Spread the Word Inclusion Week
- Unified Sports Day
- Unified Clubs
- SOfit
- Fit5
- Polar Plunge
- Unified Assemblies
- Unified Intramural Sports
- Best Buddies
- Youth Activation Committee
- Unified Student Council
- Youth Leadership Clubs
- Pep Rallies
- Fans in the Stands
- Pigskin Madness
- Lunch Buddies
- Unified P.E.
- Down Syndrome/Autism Awareness Day/Week
- Spread the Word Inclusion Week
- Unified Sports Day
- Unified Clubs
- SOfit
- Fit5
- Polar Plunge
- Unified Assemblies
- Unified Intramural Sports
- Best Buddies
- Youth Activation Committee
- Unified Student Council
- Youth Leadership Clubs
- Pep Rallies
- Fans in the Stands
- Pigskin Madness
If you’re ready to take the leap, we’ll work with you to make it happen. You can read the steps below or click the “GET STARTED” button if you’re ready to turn your school environment into one of inclusion and acceptance!
Become a Unified Champion School
Step 1
Step 2
Develop a Leadership Team
Build a committee of 3 or more school staff members (Teachers, SpEd teachers, admin, etc.) to lead your program.
Step 3
Meet with Us
Meet with SOSD staff virtually or in person (we’ll come to you!) to discuss how the UCS model fits at your school and what inclusive activities you’re already doing.
Step 4
Identify a School Liaison
The school liaison is the primary contact between Special Olympics South Dakota and the school.
Step 5
Complete the Commitment to Inclusion Form
This registers your school as a Unified Champion School and lets us know your plans for inclusion.
Step 6
Implement!
Get your UCS program rolling and become a catalyst for change! The Special Olympics South Dakota team is here to help with anything you need!
Thank You to our 2027 Rivalry Series Sponsor
Thank you, POET, for helping us create meaningful opportunities for students across South Dakota and for supporting the continued growth of Unified Sports with support for our Unified Basketball Rivalry Series. A Unified Sports Rivalry game is a Special Olympics Unified Sports game where each team represents one rival team. The two teams are comprised of students with and without intellectual disabilities from the two ‘rival’ schools. Games are played during halftime of men’s or women’s basketball games.
