For nearly two decades, the Unified Champion Schools® program has been transforming school communities nationwide by promoting inclusivity through sports. Established by Special Olympics, Unified Champion Schools began as Project Unify before being rebranded. Now in its 17th year, the program has expanded to schools nationwide, fostering an environment where students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities can compete, learn and grow together.
Unified Champion Schools started with a simple yet powerful goal: to break down barriers between students with and without disabilities through athletics and leadership opportunities. The initiative gained momentum in Indiana 12 years ago when Special Olympics Indiana (SOIN) partnered with the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) to create a structured and competitive platform for Unified Sports®.
This partnership led to the establishment of Champions Together, a statewide movement that integrates Unified Sports into Indiana schools. From the beginning, key figures such as former IHSAA Commissioner Bobby Cox, former SOIN CEO Mike Furnish, Champions Together’s first Director Lee Lonzo, and current SOIN CEO Jeff Mohler played pivotal roles in shaping the program. Their vision was to create a model where Unified Sports would be both sanctioned and supported at various levels.
The structure of Unified Sports in Indiana includes both IHSAA-sanctioned sports and Special Olympics-sponsored sports across different seasons. Beyond these core sports, many schools have taken the initiative to introduce additional Unified activities, such as Unified Dance, Unified Cheer and Unified Music. Schools like Carmel and Fishers high schools have been pioneers in expanding these offerings, showing how Unified programs can be tailored to each community.
At Hamilton Southeastern schools, Unified Sports is available only at the high school level, though there is a desire to expand it. Patrick Schooley, a coach for Unified programming at Fishers High School, has been instrumental in growing the program.
While Fishers High School has seen great success with Unified Sports, bringing it to the middle and elementary levels has been challenging, mainly due to time constraints. Schooley says expansion remains a long-term goal, especially as more teachers and administrators recognize the value of inclusion.
Unified Sports isn’t just about competition; it’s about building lifelong connections and reshaping perceptions of ability. The program pairs students with intellectual disabilities, called Unified Athletes, with students without disabilities, called Unified Partners, fostering friendships that often continue beyond high school.
One of the most inspiring stories from Indiana’s program is that of Mitch Bonar, a Noblesville High School graduate who was a driving force behind Unified Sports in his school. When he was a sophomore he approached the school’s athletic director with a simple question; why can’t students with disabilities wear their school colors and compete like everyone else? That question sparked a movement.
Today Bonar has come full-circle. He now works as an aide supporting students with disabilities, just as he once had an aide assisting him. His story is evidence of the power of Unified Sports to create lasting change, not only in the lives of athletes, but also in a school’s culture.
Similarly, Unified Partners often carry their experiences into adulthood. Elizabeth Price, a Carmel High School graduate, was a Unified Partner who later attended Elon University. Inspired by her time with Unified Sports, she started a Special Olympics program on her college campus, ensuring that inclusion remained a part of her life.
While high school Unified Sports is well-established, efforts are underway to expand middle and elementary school programming. At the middle school level, Unified programming includes Unified Track & Field, Unified Basketball, and Unified Esports and Robotics.
The elementary level focuses on “Game Day” events, which function similarly to traditional field days but emphasize inclusion. Additionally, Unified Robotics, a program in partnership with FIRST LEGO League, has gained momentum, allowing students with and without disabilities to work together on STEM-based challenges.
Significantly, Unified Champion Schools programs are free for schools to implement. SOIN secures federal grant funding to cover the cost of equipment, stipends and program expenses, eliminating financial barriers to participation.
The impact of Unified Sports extends far beyond the classroom and the playing field. One long-term goal among leaders is to see Unified Partners carry the values of inclusion into their future careers. Whether they become business owners, educators or community leaders, they are likely to hire, support and advocate for people with disabilities.
At its core, Unified Sports isn’t just about competition. It’s about changing mindsets and creating a more inclusive world. Thanks to the dedication of educators, students, and organizations like SOIN, Unified Champion Schools continues to grow, ensuring that every student, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to be seen, valued and celebrated.
