All New Jersey schools are encouraged to participate in Unified Champion Schools (UCS) programming!
Funding is typically available to public and charter schools because UCS is built on inclusion and requires participation from both students with and without intellectual disabilities.
If your school does not have both athletes and Unified Partners, you may be able to partner with another school. For example, a high school may partner with its district’s special services school, allowing students from both schools to participate together in Unified Sports, inclusive youth leadership, and whole-school engagement activities. Partner schools apply together and, if selected, receive a shared funding award.
Private schools and other schools without students with intellectual disabilities may not have the population needed to support a full UCS program independently. However, these schools are still encouraged to get involved by volunteering at Special Olympics New Jersey (SONJ) events or by supporting students in serving as Unified Partners in traditional Special Olympics sports.
SO College
Unified doesn’t stop when high school ends!
College Unified Sports brings together students with and without disabilities to play together on the same teams. Many colleges throughout New Jersey host Unified Soccer and Unified Basketball in recreational settings. Registered SONJ athletes between 16 and 30 years old are encouraged to sign up!
Click on the college name below or contact Jaclyn Williamson at JRW@SONJ.org for details.
Participating New Jersey Colleges: