Program Description

The Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program is aimed at promoting social inclusion through intentionally planned and implemented activities affecting systems-wide change in K–12 schools and across college campuses. With sports as the foundation, the three component model offers a unique combination of effective activities that equip young people with tools and training to create sports, classroom and school climates of acceptance. These are school climates where students with disabilities feel welcome and are routinely included in, and feel a part of, all activities, opportunities and functions. This is accomplished by implementing inclusive sports, inclusive youth leadership opportunities, and whole school engagement. The program is designed to be woven into the fabric of the school, enhancing current efforts and providing rich opportunities that lead to meaningful change in creating a socially inclusive school that supports and engages all learners. What a Unified Champion School “looks like” can vary greatly from school to school, based on the needs, goals, schedules and other factors unique to each school; but the basic building blocks remain the same.

Cost

Must contact Special Olympics or local Unified Champion Schools program for registration procedures.

Intended Population

• Core

Grade

• Pre-K
• Elementary School
• Middle School
• High School

Intended Group Size

• School

ELL/DLL

• Unspecified

Multisensory Applications

• Unspecified

Delivery Method

• Print-based delivery

Scripted

• Unspecified

Comprehensive or Skill Specific

• Skill Specific

Placement Tests

• No

Accelerated Learning

• No

Assessment to Monitor Skills Mastery

• No

Error Correction Built In

• Unspecified

Fidelity Measures Provided by Publisher

• Unspecified

Research Summary

Three peer-reviewed empirical studies and one evaluation report published by a third party were found. Generally, positive findings were reported. Specifically, positive impacts on student perceptions of inclusion and school climate were noted. Additionally, one study found that UCS program implementation contributed to a 1.1% increase in graduation rates among all students and a 1.4% increase in graduation rates of students with disabilities.

Study Citations

Jacobs, H.E., Duckworth, K., Lanser, A., Maharaj, A., Papalimberis, A., Siperstein, G.N. (2022). Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools: Year 13 Evaluation Report 2020-2021. Center for Social Development and Education , University of Massachusetts Boston. https://www.umb.edu/csde/research/project-unify/

Pan, C.-C., Bittner, M., & Chou, C.-C. (2023). Developing an inclusive culture through Unified Champion Schools programs: a pilot study on school awareness and attitudes toward students with intellectual disabilities among general students in Taiwan. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/20473869.2023.2231215 ‌

Siperstein, G. N., McDowell, E. D., Jacobs, H., Stokes, J. E., & Cahn, A. (2019). Unified Extracurricular Activities as a Pathway to Social Inclusion in High Schools. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 124(6), 568–582. https://doi.org/10.1352/1944-7558-124.6.568

Yin, M., Siwach, G., & Belyakova, Y. (2021). The Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools Program and High School Completion. American Educational Research Journal. https://doi.org/10.3102/00028312211032744

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

• Promising practice

Additional Reviews

• https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/17/10889