Incorporated in 1971, Special Olympics Louisiana is the official state chapter of Special Olympics International and celebrated its 40th year anniversary last year. Our organization maintains it activeness through over 100 training and sports competitions throughout the year in over 20 different Olympic-type sports and has implemented the following programs: Project UNIFY, SO Get Into It, Young Athletes, Athlete Leadership Program, Camp Shriver, Unified Sports, Traditional Special Olympics and many other local sporting and training events hosted throughout the state etc. In addition, we have also launched our Be A Fan & R-word campaigns and R.I.S.E Up Youth Forum (Respect all, Include all, Support all, Educate all) in other efforts of obtaining our overall goal which is to bring persons with intellectual disabilities into the larger society under conditions whereby they are accepted, respected, and given a chance to become productive citizens. We currently serve 12,000 out of the 132,000 potential persons with intellectual disabilities throughout Louisiana utilizing over 12,000 volunteers.
The following is a description of our current programs:
• Project UNIFY - Project UNIFY is a movement to initiate inclusion in all schools with the purpose to promote school communities that exercise all young people as agents of change - fostering respect, dignity and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities. It is our objective to make a large impact across the state and offer all of our life changing programs to Louisiana schools. Project UNIFY incorporates several programs such as:
- Youth Forum(R.I.S.E. Up)
- Unified Sports
- Traditional Special Olympics
- Small Steps, Big Leaps (Young Athletes)
- Athlete Leadership
- R-Word Campaign
- SO Get Into It
- Be a fan Campaign
Special Olympics Project UNIFY’s goal is to activate youth in an effort to develop school communities where all young people are agents of change, fostering respect, dignity and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities. To realize this goal, Project UNIFY seeks to utilize existing programs and initiatives of Special Olympics in combination with programs in the school community. Project UNIFY has clear and defined characteristics: 1) school-community collaborations; 2) inclusive programming; and 3) youth empowerment and leadership. Other characteristics important to the quality execution of our objectives include: sustaining relationships among young people with and without ID, effective communications, continuous improvement, and professional development. Visit Special Olympics International’s website: http://www.specialolympics.org/project_unify.aspx
• SO Get Into It - Serves as a directive in the classrooms and is a curriculum based resource for K-12 students with and without disabilities. It emphasizes the promotion of interaction between youth development and character education. Teachers and Administrators are encouraged to sign up at: http://info.specialolympics.org/Special+Olympics+Public+Website/English/Initiatives/Schools_and_Youth/SOGII/Default.htm
• Young Athletes - Has been developed as a direct response for families of children with intellectual disabilities. This program introduces small children, ages 2 through 7, to skills that prepare them for future sports participation. The skills learned will increase the participant’s motor tracking and eye-hand coordination. Families are able to connect with their intellectually disabled child through a unique approach. Since the start of the program in 2007, 563 young athletes have been recruited and with it people will be able to change their perceptions and stereotypes of individuals. http://www.specialolympics.org/young_athletes.aspx
• Athlete Leadership Program - Allows athletes to explore opportunities for participation in roles previously considered "non-traditional." ALP’s institutes training so that our athletes can be participants in all administrative functions of the organization. Volunteer and Coaches Training sessions are setup throughout the year to train area volunteers to work effectively with athletes to build management and engage in leadership skills in all aspects of Special Olympics.
• Camp Shriver & Unified Sports - Bring together athletes with intellectual disabilities and their peers without intellectual disabilities to the same team for training and competition.
• Traditional Special Olympics - Will be included as it is the basis of our organizations foundation. Through sports people without intellectual disabilities can relate to our athletes and witness their true abilities. Once students view the traditional games and volunteer, we know they will learn and grow from the experience. Young athletes will be utilized to involve young children into the movement at an early age. Teaching children inclusion at such a young age will on foster acceptance and unity as they get older. This is a way to bring together athletes with intellectual disabilities and their peers without intellectual disabilities to the same team for training and competition.
• The R-Word (“R” word being retard) & Be a Fan Campaigns serve as a domino effect of breaking down barriers and stereotypes; creating avenues of inclusion, understanding and acceptance. Special Olympics Louisiana (SOLA) has had numerous accomplishments statewide and nationally over the years.
• The summer of last year SOLA outreach directors introduced our R.I.S.E UP program to several of our local schools to put a Youth Forum in place and act as a platform for the growth of our present Athlete Leadership Program. R.I.S.E Up encourages youth with and without intellectual disabilities to Respect, Include, Support & Educate each other; allowing them to discuss issues they face in today’s society.
• Additionally, Fans in the Stands and Fan Community are also initiatives incorporated in Project UNIFY. These two initiatives are in place to encourage community involvement and all efforts of supporting our athletes.
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