BECOME A UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOL

Building Inclusive School Communities Together

BECOME A UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOL

Building Inclusive School Communities Together!

A SCHOOL CULTURE BUILT ON BELONGING

Unified Champion Schools (UCS) brings students together through inclusive sports, youth leadership, and schoolwide engagement that transforms how young people learn and lead. When your school embraces this model, classrooms become more welcoming, students build empathy and confidence, and leadership opportunities expand for everyone. It is a place where students of all abilities feel seen and supported, where differences are valued, and where school pride grows stronger. The result is a more connected campus where inclusion is not a lesson taught, but a culture lived every day.

A SCHOOL CULTURE BUILT ON BELONGING

3 COMPONENTS OF UCS

Any school can create meaningful opportunities for students with and without intellectual disabilities by bringing together the three key components of UCS that drive inclusion and create more positive school cultures.

UNIFIED
SPORTS

Unified Sports is a program in which people with intellectual disabilities (athletes) and those without (partners) train and compete together on sports teams.

INCLUSIVE YOUTH LEADERSHIP

Students with and without intellectual disabilities working together to lead and plan advocacy, awareness, and other Special Olympics and related inclusive activities throughout the school year.

WHOLE SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT

Whole School Engagement incorporates awareness and education activities which promote inclusion, reach the entire school, and align with the Unified Champion School mission.

Inclusion Grows Through Every Step of the Journey

From early childhood through school and into the broader community, our programs are connected to support athletes at every step.

Unified Schools in Southern California

Youth Impacted Statewide

0 K+

of athletes experienced improved self-confidence

0 %

of UCS liaisons reported reduced bullying

0 %

HOW TO BECOME A
UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOL

APPLY

Submit your application to become a Unified Champion School with Special Olympics Southern California by locating and contacting your local SOSC Schools staff member in the contact section below.