1 Be a fan of acceptance, dignity, and the human race. 1 Purpose of Project UNIFY Through Special Olympics, using sports as catalyst, activate youth across the country … Promote school communities of acceptance and inclusion where all young people are agents of change … Foster respect, dignity and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities

2 Be a fan of acceptance, dignity, and the human race. 2 What Is Project UNFIY?

3 Be a fan of acceptance, dignity, and the human race. 3 Why Project UNIFY? Strong and irrefutable evidence for Special Olympics sports and related programs … Providing platforms for youth to understand and value their peers with intellectual disabilities, and Empowering and activating youth to create opportunities for and with them in sport, friendship and advocacy.

4 Be a fan of acceptance, dignity, and the human race. 4 Scope of Project UNIFY Youth Leadership School-Community Collaborations Continuous Improvement Communications Professional Development Unifying Programming (Unified Sports® in combination with other youth programming) Creating and Sustaining Relationships

5 Be a fan of acceptance, dignity, and the human race. 5 Continuum of Engagement Among youth, to become a leading cause, not just a service or activity: Educate –Provide a climate of understanding of social justice Motivate –Increase recruitment, engagement, and interest Activate –Offer opportunities for action, as partners or in other leadership roles, & future leaders of Special Olympics

6 Be a fan of acceptance, dignity, and the human race. 6 Menu of Opportunities Sports at the core / School as the unit of engagement Schools Traditional Sports Games/Tournaments Coaching Volunteers Fans in the Stands Communications & Engagement Be a Fan – “R Word” Website Sports Experience Inclusive Sports Unified Sports® Camp Shriver Inclusive Schools SOGII – Essay Contests Booster Clubs School Enrichment Global Youth Congress Youth Summits Early Childhood Enrichment Young Athletes Athlete Leadership & Self-Advocacy Youth Leadership

7 Be a fan of acceptance, dignity, and the human race. 7 Unified Sports® Students with and w/out disability on same team Creating inclusive school climates Sutherlin High School

8 Be a fan of acceptance, dignity, and the human race. 8 Soeren Palumbo –Activist for individuals with intellectual disabilities –Inspired millions with his high school speech –Check it out on youtube: m/watch?v=CoqaNG0 Ozqc m/watch?v=CoqaNG0 Ozqc

9 Be a fan of acceptance, dignity, and the human race. 9 R-Word Campaign Educating society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the R-word Bend High School’s R-Word Rally

10 Be a fan of acceptance, dignity, and the human race. 10 The Pledge I pledge and support the elimination of the derogatory use of the R-Word from everyday speech and promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.

11 Be a fan of acceptance, dignity, and the human race. 11 Pledge and Plunge –Educate others about the R-Word AND raise money and awareness for Special Olympics Oregon athletes –Compete with other high schools across Oregon to raise the most $$$

12 Be a fan of acceptance, dignity, and the human race. 12 Forest Grove High School

13 Be a fan of acceptance, dignity, and the human race. 13 Show & Tell Other Students’ Projects

14 Be a fan of acceptance, dignity, and the human race. 14 October 2, Nike Youth Activation Summit Youth Games Unified Sports

15 Be a fan of acceptance, dignity, and the human race. 15 Show and Tell -word-Video-on-Special- Olympics/video/527699/82244.html

16 Be a fan of acceptance, dignity, and the human race. 16 Questions?