All New Jersey schools are encouraged to participate in Unified Champion Schools (UCS) programming!
Funding is typically available to public and charter schools, as these schools often have student populations that include individuals both with and without intellectual disabilities—an essential component of Unified activities. Because UCS is built on inclusion, participating schools should have students from both groups working together.
If your school does not have students with intellectual disabilities but your district includes a special services school, both schools can partner to form a Unified program. This collaboration allows students from each school to participate fully in all UCS activities together.
Private schools often do not have students with intellectual disabilities and may lack the population needed to support a full UCS program. However, schools without students with disabilities—and without a partner school—are still encouraged to get involved by volunteering at Special Olympics New Jersey (SONJ) events or by supporting individual students in becoming Unified Partners for traditional Special Olympics sports.
Find out if your school participates
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 Jess Stevenson at JNS@sonj.org for details.
Participating New Jersey Colleges: