According to “Special Olympics Connecticut,” 97% of Connecticut public high schools offer Special Olympics Unified Sports Programs.
Unified Sports is a program that pairs athletes with students with disabilities who are interested in playing sports. Every year, the state of Connecticut holds an annual Unified Sports Leadership Summit, this year being at Rocky Hill High School.
James Chiappetta, a special education teacher at Foran, states, “It brings together Unified Sports coaches and players from across the state to discuss how we can create a fun, supportive, and inclusive environment for everyone who participates.”
The summit allows students to learn how to become leaders within sports and work with others around them. Within the summit, teachers and students are able to learn about inclusion, teamwork, and leadership by working in team activities, listening to speakers, and going to workshops.
Sophomore Lena Pangu states, “Listening to an athlete who participated in the Special Olympics share part of their story of overcoming hardships and thriving in sports helps the athletes envision themselves in a leadership role.”
Physical education teacher and head coach Mrs. Catherine GaNun also harps on the importance of the speakers at the summit.
“One of the speakers focused on the importance of facing your fears instead of running away from them. We realized that many people share similar fears, and it’s healthier to talk about them rather than keep them bottled up,” states GaNun.
When students can work in group activities and try new things, they can face their fears and find new ways they are able to express themselves and enjoy new experiences.
Within Foran, GaNun and Chiapetta plan to allow students to step out of their comfort zones, try new things, and support one another. Students were able to play games with unified athletes and other peer coaches from other schools. Within this, teams were introduced to new games and activities, achieving an ability to involve more people in the program.
Pangu states that, “It helps the athletes connect with new people and introduces them to strategies that can help them become the best they can be.”
