Donald E. Briere III, University of Connecticut
Del Siegle, University of Connecticut - Storrs

Unified Sports is Special Olympics’ response to the inclusion movement. The program includes both students with disabilities and students without disabilities working together in athletic competitions. We describe 4 students who participated in the program: 3 females and 1 male. The students’ disabilities varied and included mobile impairment, traumatic brain injury, and learning disabilities. We administered pre and post surveys and conducted one-on-one interviews with these participants upon their completion of their Unified Sports basketball season. Teams learned about and practiced the game of basketball twice a week (during their gym class) and ventured to competitions across Connecticut against other schools. The competitions occurred toward the end of the 6-month program. The Unified Sports basketball program had a positive effect on these students’ attitudes. All of the participants verbally expressed highly positive feelings about the program and each of them recommended the program be continued in the future. Social self-concept showed the most significant positive change and physical self-concept showed the least.

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