Unified Champion Schools®
Inclusion starts where students spend so much of their time: at school.
Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® (UCS) brings students of all abilities together to play, lead, connect, and create change. Through sports, leadership, and school-wide activities, UCS helps build communities where everyone is welcomed, valued, and included.
At Special Olympics New Hampshire, we believe students aren’t just participants in the movement—they are leaders and changemakers. Their energy, creativity, and ideas have the power to transform their schools and help create a more accepting and inclusive world for people with intellectual disabilities and for everyone.
What Makes a Unified Champion School?
UCS is built around four key components, working together to create meaningful and lasting inclusion:
Unified Sports®
Students with and without intellectual disabilities come together as teammates to practice, compete, and have fun while building friendships and a stronger sense of belonging.
Inclusive Youth Leadership
Students of all abilities have opportunities to lead, collaborate, and make their voices heard as they create inclusive experiences and champion change in their schools.
Whole-School Engagement
Inclusion is for everyone! Schools bring their entire community together through awareness activities, celebrations, events, and shared experiences that promote acceptance and belonging.
Sustainability
The goal is to make inclusion part of the culture—not just a one-time event. Schools develop programs, partnerships, and traditions that keep the Unified movement growing year after year.
Inclusion Starts Here
From the classroom to the playing field and beyond, Special Olympics New Hampshire offers school-based programs and resources for students at every grade level. Whether students are competing as Unified teammates, leading an inclusion campaign, or bringing their whole school together, there are countless ways to get involved, build connections, and make a difference.
Ready to Make Your School a Unified Champion School?
Bring the power of inclusion, friendship, leadership, and belonging to your school community! By becoming a Special Olympics Unified Champion School®, your school joins a statewide movement where students of all abilities learn, lead, play, and celebrate together. Sign the 2026–2027 Schools Agreement and take the first step toward making inclusion part of your school culture all year long! Completed applications can be returned to Leisa at LeisaD@sonh.org.
Special Olympics Unified Middle Schools
Middle School: Where Inclusion Takes Off!
Middle school is the perfect place to get involved, get active, and make a difference! Through Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools®, students build friendships and teamwork through Unified Basketball, Unified Fitness, and Unified PE—where everyone plays, participates, and belongs. But it doesn’t stop on the field! Students can step into Youth Leadership, start inclusive clubs, lead awareness events, and bring their entire school community together through exciting whole-school activities like Unified Sports Days and the Cool Schools Dip. It’s all about creating a school where inclusion isn’t just an idea—it’s something everyone gets to experience!
Special Olympics Unified High Schools
High School: Take Inclusion to the Next Level!
High school is where students step up, lead, compete, and make an impact! Through three seasons of Unified Sports—fall soccer, winter basketball, and spring volleyball or track & field—in partnership with the NHIAA, students with and without intellectual disabilities train together, compete together, and proudly represent their schools on varsity-style teams. And the action goes far beyond the playing field!
Unified Clubs and student leaders create awareness campaigns, lead inclusive activities, give back through community projects, and help shape the future of inclusion. From pep rallies and Fans in the Stands to Unified Field Days, the High School Plunge, and the Cool Schools Dip, students are turning inclusion into a school-wide movement—and having a whole lot of fun along the way!
Inclusive Youth Leadership (IYL)
Give Students a Voice. Give Them a Lead Role.
Inclusive Youth Leadership gives every student the opportunity to lead, connect, and make a difference. In the classroom, students of all abilities work together to make decisions, solve problems, and create a culture where every voice is heard and every student belongs.
Ready to help your students become changemakers? Check out our resources for ideas and activities that put students in the driver’s seat of inclusion!
Unified Clubs: Where Students Lead the Way
A Unified Club is more than just a club—it’s a place where students with and without intellectual disabilities come together, build friendships, have fun, and create change. Student-led activities, awareness events, and school-wide projects give students the chance to turn their ideas into action and help build a school community where everyone is welcomed, valued, and included.
Want to learn more or start a Unified Club at your school? Check out our Unified Clubs Guide or reach out to us directly!
👉 Leisa D’Amour – Leisad@sonh.org or MJ Hippern – mjh@sonh.org
Whole School Engagement
Bring Everyone In. Celebrate Everyone!
Whole-School Engagement turns inclusion into a schoolwide movement! It gives students, teachers, and staff the opportunity to come together, have fun, and show that everyone belongs. From Fans in the Stands and Unified pep rallies to Spread the Word awareness campaigns, schools can create exciting experiences that bring people together and inspire students of all abilities to learn, lead, and take action.
💡 Looking for a fun way to get your whole school involved?
Each month, the Unified Update will feature a new Whole-School Engagement Challenge with a simple, creative activity your school can jump into. These challenges are designed to build excitement, spark conversations, and make inclusion a visible part of your school community.
Check out this month’s challenge and get your school involved!