Inclusive Sports

The Unified Championship Schools® program helps Sabrana Bishop (left) and her team feel valued and included.

Inclusion doesn't always happen organically. Sometimes, it requires effort through direct intervention and conscious choices.

The remarkable success of Special Olympics Florida’s Unified programs is a testament to our leadership’s focus on serving our athletes' needs. Through our partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, we have significantly increased the number of Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® (SOUCS) programs across Miami-Dade County, allowing us to educate school administrators and teachers, athletes, Unified partners, and parents about our developmental sports programs.

In 2023, the county had 37 SOUCS. Today, there are 70. Statewide, since 2023, the number of SOUCS programs has grown from 437 to 588. We are thrilled that 48 of those schools have been recognized as a National Banner Unified Champion School.

Through our age-based developmental sports programs (bit.ly/49rSes9), we help students discover their true potential. Students develop fundamental physical and social skills in a fun, playful atmosphere.

These initiatives have fostered powerful relationships between Unified partners and athletes. Our programs have shattered stereotypes, dispelled misconceptions, and instilled in participants a newfound sense of confidence.

“Research has shown that SOUCS schools report higher levels of acceptance, less bullying, and stronger social connections among their students,” said Ashley Hernandez, Special Olympics Florida’s senior director of Unified Champion Schools® and Developmental Sports. “We see that all the time at our schools in Miami-Dade and throughout Florida. It’s incredible – and inspiring.”

Our greatest challenge to program growth is identifying dedicated educators passionate about fostering a culture of inclusion throughout the school. Being a good teacher isn’t enough. Candidates must also be committed to our mission of building communities where all people are treated with dignity and respect. Enthusiasm and dedication are essential to creating an environment where every student feels valued.

We are fortunate to have educators who help bring our programs to life. We stage three multi-school events each year that unite athletes and Unified partners from our SOUCS. These events are designed to reflect the three regions of the Miami-Dade school district—North, Central, and South—and celebrate the unique cultures and backgrounds of their students and our athletes.

These gatherings celebrate participants' achievements and unite athletes in an inclusive, supportive atmosphere. Together, they showcase the skills honed through our age-based developmental sports programs. The activities emphasize teamwork, sportsmanship, and fun. They reinforce powerful connections and cultivate a strong sense of community among all involved.

The events help overcome what we refer to as the “limited exposure problem.”

Many students have never spent time around someone with an intellectual or other developmental disability (IDD). They don’t know what to expect, and that lack of knowledge can breed anxiety. Bringing everyone together helps dispel the mystery. It fosters a sense of camaraderie, increases understanding and empathy, and lays the groundwork for new friendships.

Cindy Augustine, a student at Marathon High School, attended the Miami Youth Leadership Summit at the Friendship Circle in 2025. There, she played a number of games designed to encourage communication among peers without – and this is important – adults intervening. By the end of the event, she had nine new friends from different schools.

Cindy’s experience isn’t unique. A teacher from the Miami Beach Fienberg-Fisher K-8 Center told me about a student who struggled to connect and make friends. She also attended the Leadership Summit and left that day with the phone numbers of another Special Olympics Florida athlete and a Unified partner. That ultimately led to get-togethers for the children and their parents.

Special Olympics is known across the globe for giving people with IDD a chance to shine on the playing field. Medals and ribbons are terrific, but helping athletes connect with the world may be the most important thing we do. Everyone wants to belong; everyone wants to contribute. Our SOUCS and our Unified programs help make that happen. They are the bridges that lead our athletes to happier, healthier lives.