Project Unify
Massachusetts
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Acceptance
Fun!
What is
Project
Unify?
Friendship
2 / Special Olympics Massachusetts
Unity
Youth
Driven
Project Unify®

Mission

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The mission of Project Unify is to activate youth
around the country 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 by utilizing the programs and
initiatives of Special Olympics. Project Unify is
a national project, funded by the U.S.
Department of Education.
Schools
participate in
3 components
of Project
UNIFY:
4 / Special Olympics Program Name
• Inclusive Sports
• Youth Leadership
• Advocacy and Whole
School Engagement
Inclusive Sports
‣ Students with and without intellectual disabilities
participate in sports alongside each other through
Unified Sports or an Inclusive Youth Athletes Program.
‣ Examples:
‣ Unified Sports
‣ Young Athletes (Ages 2-7)
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Youth Leadership
‣ Provide students with and without intellectual
disabilities opportunities to take on leadership roles to
promote Project UNIFY activities in the school and in
the community
‣ Examples
‣ Partner’s Clubs
‣ Teaming up with Best Buddies Clubs
‣ Youth Summits
‣ SOMA Youth Activation Council (YAC)
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Whole School Engagement
‣ When an entire school accepts and includes students
and others with intellectual disabilities, it is a powerful
community of change.
‣ Examples:
‣ “R-Word” Assemblies – Spread the Word to End
the Word
‣ Fans in the Stands
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Youth Activation Council (YAC)
‣ To bring together young people with and without
intellectual disabilities from throughout Massachusetts
to be the leaders of the Project Unify mission.
‣ Council members are between the ages of 14-22).
‣ Promote school communities that foster acceptance,
respect, dignity and advocacy for people with
intellectual disabilities.
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Schools Involved in the
YAC
Algonquin
Attleboro
Grafton
Groton
Hudson
Milford
Westborough
9 / Special Olympics Massachusetts
Thank you.
Patti Doherty
Youth Engagement and Schools Manager
patti.doherty@specialolympicsma.org
508-485-0986 x226
www.specialolympicsma.org
www.r-word.org
www.specialolympics.org/projectunifyresources
Massachusetts
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