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. 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.

Together we are creating a Unified Generation that Chooses to Include. Join us.

1. There should be more opportunities in schools across the country for young people of all ages and all ability levels to make friends and work together for change.   
2. Students with intellectual disabilities should become part of the fabric of the education community and be perceived as assets in their schools and communities
3. Students without intellectual disabilities can and should increase their knowledge, skills and comfort in forming positive social relationships with students with intellectual disabilities and should come together to address societal issues
4. Policymakers and education leaders should develop policies and support quality practices that encourage positive school climates characterized by safe and nurturing learning environments for all students.

1. Unified Sports: This means two things in Unified Champion Schools: One, student with intellectual disabilities are provided the opportunity to participate in sports. Two, students with and without intellectual disabilities participate in sports alongside each other – inclusively.  Students develop exceptional athletic skills while forming friendships, fostering respect for each other, and becoming leaders on and off the court
2. Inclusive Youth Leadership & Advocacy: Opportunities for youth with and without intellectual disabilities to become agents of change within their school, community, and state.
3. Whole School Engagement:  An important feature of creating a socially inclusive school climate is engaging the entire school community in the process.

• Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools 
• Special Olympics Maine Unified Champion Schools
• Generation Unified

• Unified Sports
• Inclusive Youth Leadership & Advocacy
• Whole School Involvement

1. Elements of Service-Learning (S-L): S-L differs from Community Service in that youth identify a need and organize service to create meaningful change.  Learning – tied to academic curriculum – accompanies service.  Students explore, plan, implement, reflect and modify as needed along the way.
2. School Leadership Team:  The team will be responsible for establishing the vision and overarching goals for the school, coordinating early stages of implementation, and working with leaders of specific events. The team will also monitor the success of the strategy, with an eye toward continuous improvement.
3. Budget: What expenses do you anticipate and how much will you spend on each?  What is the total budget for your project?  What expenses can be donated or shared?
4. Project Documentation: photos, video, written updates/journal, Facebook posts, receipts
5. Project Evaluation:  Completion of National and State level surveys capturing what worked.  What would you change?  What improvements would you make?  What challenges did you face?  How did you overcome them?
6. Final Report, including receipts, unused funds and any post-project action plan, must be submitted to Special Olympics Maine no more than thirty (30) days after the event or activities conclude.

• Complete entire Unified Champion Schools grant application
• Merits/quality of proposed project
• Concise, clear and straightforward answers to the proposal questions
• Written sections show attention to spelling, grammar and punctuation
• Strong evidence that youth have been involved in developing the proposal
• A clearly-defined, appropriate budget

• Schools will be notified within 2 weeks of their grant submission.

• Interscholastic Special Olympics Unified Basketball applicants max request - $3,000.00 year 1 & $2,000.00 year 2.
• Interscholastic Special Olympics Unified Bocce applicants max request per year - $1,500.00
• Youth Athletes Programs max request - $1,000.00 per year
• Youth Summit max per year -  $500.00