Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® is a strategy for schools Pre-K through College that intentionally promotes meaningful social inclusion by bringing together students with and without intellectual disabilities to create accepting school environments.
Sign your school up for the 2022-2023 school year by CLICKING HERE!
The Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program is aimed at promoting social inclusion through intentionally planned and implemented activities affecting systems-wide change. 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.Together we are creating a Unified Generation that Chooses to Include.
Announcements
Click here to register for the 2023 Virtual Summer Coaches Training on April 5th from 5:30-7:30!
Special Olympics Wyoming is offereing this training in 3 sessions:
Session 1 – 5:30pm-6:00pm: Welcome to Special Olympics Wyoming, and General Session Certification. This session is especially for all new coaches (although returning coaches are welcome!). Led by Laura Kelly
Session 2 – 6:00pm-6:30pm: Administrative side of coaching. Team paperwork, registration forms, data collection during practice. This session is for new coaches, coaches who would like a refresher, and local/team coordinators! Led by Katy Brittain
Session 3 – 6:30pm-7:30pm: Sport-specific breakout rooms. Get certified or re-certified in your sport, learn warm-ups, drills, exercises, and cool-downs, as well as rules to be aware of. This session is for all coaches!
Athletics led by Jessica Purdum
Basketball led by Jenni Wildcat
Swimming led by Sarah Call
Powerlifting TBD
Youth Innovations Project Application NOW OPEN-- Are you Ready to Promote Inclusion in Your Community?
Special Olympics awards project-based grants to young people with and without intellectual disabilities. These grants fund youth-led projects that promote inclusion in schools and communities across the globe. What is a Youth Innovation Grant? Special Olympics awards project-based grants to Youth Leaders around the world twice per year in amounts of 500, 1,000, 1,500, or 2,000 U.S. Dollars.
Click here for more information and to apply. **Applicants will be notified whether or not they have been accepted 30 days from the date of application submission**
National Banner Recognition-- Application opens APRIL 3RD!
A Special Olympics Unified Champion School has an inclusive school climate and exudes a sense of collaboration, engagement and respect for all members of the student body and staff. A Unified Champion School receiving national banner recognition is one that has demonstrated commitment to inclusion by meeting 10 national standards of excellence. These standards were developed by a national panel of leaders from Special Olympics and the education community.
The primary activities within these standards include: Special Olympics Unified Sports® (where students with and without disabilities train and compete as teammates), Inclusive Youth Leadership and Whole-School Engagement. Banner Unified Champion Schools should also be able to demonstrate they are self-sustainable or have a plan in place to sustain these activities into the future.
The expectation of this recognition is that the 10 standards are continuously being met, year after year. To ensure this sustainability, schools reapply for banner status every 4 years
Check out the links below to see if your school is ready to apply in April! You may be farther along than you think!
National Standards for Elementary Schools
National Standards for Middle Schools and High Schools
Resources
*For a hard copy, please email ucs@specialolympicswy.org
Unified Sports Offered
Become a Unified Coach / Become a Unified Partner / Become an Athlete
Whole School Engagement
Awareness and education activities that promote inclusion and reach the majority of the school population. Examples are Inclusion Campaign, pep rallies, “fans in the stands”, “Spread the Word”, etc.
More examples and how to implement Whole School Engagement can be found in the Unified Champion School Playbooks above.
Spread The Word

Jackalope Jump
Inclusive Youth Leadership
Leadership
UCS in Action