Special Olympics Arizona

Brittany Meola, Director of Support Programs Special Olympics Arizona 2100 South 75th Avenue | Phoenix, AZ. 85043 [C] 602.739.0539 | [E] Brittany@SpecialOlympicsArizona.org [O] 602.476.0835 | [F] 602.230.1110

Global Strategic Plan Video

Lifelong Engagement Program Young Athletes Program Elementary Unified Curriculum High School Unified Curriculum AIA Unified Sports SO College Unified Sports Community Based Unified Sports

Age Group 2-8 8-12 12-22 12-22 22+ 22+

Young Athletes What is Young Athletes? • An innovative sports play program for children ages 2-7 with and

without intellectual disabilities. • Designed to introduce them to the world of sports prior to Special

Olympics eligibility at the age of 7 ½ . Athletes Families Noted Improvements In: • Motor Skill Development • Cognitive Skill Development • Social Emotional Skill Development • Adaptive Skill Development • Communication Skill Development Program Goal: • Engage children with intellectual disabilities through developmentally

appropriate play activities designed to foster physical, cognitive and social development.

Unified Schools & Youth Leadership

What is the Vision? • The goal of Unified Champion Schools is to activate young people to

develop school communities where all young people are inclusive agents of change.

Key Components of Unified Schools: • Unified Sports • AIA Unified Sports (High Schools) • Unified Sports Curriculum • Unified Clubs • Spread the Word to End the Word • Minute That Matters Challenge

Unified Champion School Status: • Unified Sports • Unified Clubs (Youth Leadership) • Whole School Engagement

Unified Schools & Youth Leadership National Banner Recognition Program The Special Olympics National School Recognition Program provides an opportunity for schools across the United States to be acknowledged for their achievements with inclusion and their partnership with Special Olympics.

Achievement Standards • Unified Sports is offered in at least 2 seasons throughout the school year • Unified Sports participation occurs regularly over the course of each sport season

or school term and includes competition. • An adult coach for each sport who has received training on Special Olympics

Unified Sports. • Unified Sports is officially recognized by the school in a similar style as other

athletics/activities. • A Unified Club or student group offers leadership opportunities/training for

students with and without intellectual disabilities. • The inclusive club/group meets at least once per month throughout the school

year. • The inclusive club/group has an adult liaison and is officially recognized by the

school in a similar style as other clubs/activities. • At least two whole-school engagement activities are implemented per school year • Students with and without disabilities are involved with planning and leading the

awareness activities. • The school is currently self-sustainable or has a plan in place to sustain the three

components into the future.

Unified Sports

Special Olympics Unified Sports is a fast-growing initiative that brings people with and without intellectual disabilities together on the same team to compete.

SOAZ & AIA Unified Sports Vision: The main philosophy of SOAZ/AIA Unified Sports is about inclusion and recognition of the Special Olympics athletes on their high school campus.

Unified Sports Curriculum:

An inclusive program for elementary, middle, & high school which combines athletes and partners on sports teams for training and competition within the P.E. Classroom. Athletes and partners will receive a P.E. credit towards graduation. The Curriculum follows Arizona's P.E. State Standards and is the fastest growing Unified Sports option offered.

Inclusive Youth Leadership

Where can inclusive youth leadership live? • Unified Clubs

• State Youth Activation Committee (State YAC)

• Special Olympics Unified Leaders (SOUL)

• Athlete Input Council (AIC)

What are examples of inclusive youth leadership with SOAZ? • Members of SOUL assist as Meeting Minute Coordinators with Health

Leadership Committee or join the Athlete Leaders in Health Sub-Committee

• Members of YAC & SOUL help lead sessions/trainings at statewide conferences

• Members of AIC will advocate on Hill Day and Lunch on the Lawn 8 / Special Olympics

Whole School Engagement

What activities lead to whole school engagement? • Spread the Word to End the Word

• Minute That Matters

• Unified Fan Activation

• Unified Arts Dance Marathon

• Unified Obstacle Course *Elementary only

Who leads these activities? • Our inclusive youth leaders!

9 / Special Olympics

After Graduation What opportunities still exist? • Unified Sports

• Community Delegations

• Area & State Competitions

• Join Games Management Team (GMT) or become an official

• Athlete & Youth Leadership • Athlete Input Council

• Special Olympics Unified Leaders

• Athlete Leaders in Health Sub-Committee

• Advisory Leadership Council

• Internships & Employment with SOAZ

10 / Special Olympics

After Graduation: Unified Arts

• School Art Challenges & Inclusive Music Program • With Unified Music, you can get engaged with the launch

of our Ukulele Curriculum! Your school can receive ukuleles, tuners, and a curriculum that incorporates learning for people of all abilities and are based on an awesome approach with colored strings!

• If music isn’t your thing, your school can also receive a free Unified Club Kit with tons of fun Unified Arts resources to help get your Unified Arts Program started! Unified Arts projects are youth-led and implemented through Unified Clubs on campus at NO COST to your students!

11 / Special Olympics

• CommUNITY Art classes • Through weekly, facilitated art classes, Special Olympics Arizona can

encourage people of all ages, with and without intellectual disabilities, to flourish in their creative abilities by engaging in thoughtful, inventive and enjoyable projects.

After Graduation: Community Involvement

How is my community involved with SOAZ?

• Law Enforcement Torch Run • Minute That Matters • Tip-A-Cop • Torch Run

• Fundraisers • Over the Edge • Breakfast with Champions • Tip-A-Cop • Fry’s Fuel of Dreams

12 / Special Olympics

Health Programs Healthy Athletes • Vision (Opening Eyes) • Dental (Special Smiles) • Hearing (Healthy Hearing) • Health Promotion (Health Education) • Podiatry (Fit Feet) • Physical Therapy (FUNfitness) • Sports Physicals (Medfest) • Mental Health- New (Sport Psychology)

Health Education

• Healthy LEAP • High School • Elementary • Preschool

SOfit An 8 week fitness education and activity course designed to get athletes exercising with their teams and in the classroom.

13 / Special Olympics

Please contact us with any questions!