What is a Unified Club?
A Unified Club is a club for students with and without intellectual disabilities that comes together for sports, games, community service, school events, and most of all, to have fun! Unified Club 101Students of all abilities have the power to positively impact their school communities by promoting social inclusion. With tools such as Spread the Word to End the Word®, Fans in the Stands, and Unified Sports Field Days, youth raise awareness and begin creating an educational environment where respect and acceptance are the norm and all students feel included and engaged. Whole School activities engage students, teachers, staff, leaders and others to increase their social inclusion knowledge, skills and dispositions and support a socially inclusive school climate. Through whole school engagement, the school becomes a powerful community that represents new ways of thinking and acting. When the school climate conveys and fosters understanding, inclusion, and respect for all, the students internalize those lessons for their lives both within and beyond school. Whole School engagement is a unique and important component because it:
Engages the entire staff and student body in building awareness and understanding of the benefit to all when the assets and contributions of each individual are recognized, honored and supported. Energizes social inclusion efforts and expands stakeholder involvement beyond a passionate few. Is a critical component to creating a socially inclusive school climate. Provides an opportunity for the most engaged students at a Unified Champion School to create a ripple effect from their actions and advocacy. Goals of Whole School engagement: Students without disabilities will hold more positive attitudes toward their peers with intellectual disabilities. Schools will become communities of acceptance where students with intellectual disabilities feel welcome and are routinely included in, and feel a part of, all school activities, opportunities and functions. |