Massachusetts

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Project Unify

2 / Special Olympics Massachusetts

What is

Project

Unify?

Acceptance

Unity

Youth DrivenFriendship

Fun!

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Project Unify®

Mission

The mission of Project Unify is to activate youth around the country in an effort to develop school communities where all young people are agents of change – fostering respect, dignity and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities by utilizing the programs and initiatives of Special Olympics. Project Unify is a national project, funded by the U.S. Department of Education.

4 / Special Olympics Program Name

• Inclusive Sports• Youth Leadership • Advocacy and Whole

School Engagement

Schools participate

in 3 components

of Project UNIFY:

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Inclusive Sports

‣ Students with and without intellectual disabilities participate in sports alongside each other through Unified Sports or an Inclusive Youth Athletes Program.

‣ Examples:

‣ Unified Sports

‣ Young Athletes (Ages 2-7)

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Youth Leadership

‣ Provide students with and without intellectual disabilities opportunities to take on leadership roles to promote Project UNIFY activities in the school and in the community

‣ Examples

‣ Partner’s Clubs

‣ Teaming up with Best Buddies Clubs

‣ Youth Summits

‣ SOMA Youth Activation Council (YAC)

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Whole School Engagement

‣ When an entire school accepts and includes students and others with intellectual disabilities, it is a powerful community of change.

‣ Examples:

‣ “R-Word” Assemblies – Spread the Word to End the Word

‣ Fans in the Stands 

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Youth Activation Council (YAC)

‣ To bring together young people with and without intellectual disabilities from throughout Massachusetts to be the leaders of the Project Unify mission.

‣ Council members are between the ages of 14-22).

‣ Promote school communities that foster acceptance, respect, dignity and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities.

9 / Special Olympics Massachusetts

Schools Involved in the YAC

Algonquin

Attleboro

Grafton

Groton

Hudson

Milford

Westborough

Massachusetts

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Thank you.

Patti DohertyYouth Engagement and Schools Managerpatti.doherty@specialolympicsma.org508-485-0986 x226www.specialolympicsma.orgwww.r-word.orgwww.specialolympics.org/projectunifyresources