SPECIAL OLYMPICS RHODE ISLAND INC

Unified Champion Schools promotes social inclusion by bringing together young people with and without ID on sports teams (Special Olympics Unified Sports®), through inclusive student clubs, together in school or community-wide initiatives, and by fostering youth leadership. At its core, this strategy is about unifying all students – with and without disabilities – using sports as a catalyst for social inclusion and attitude and behavioral change. Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools is a national program funded by the U.S. Department of Education.

Special Olympics Rhode Island understands the value of involving young people in building a more inclusive world. By educating youth that people with intellectual disabilities cross all boundaries of age, gender, religion and culture, and showing them that all people have something to contribute. Special Olympics Rhode Island is building acceptance for the next generation.

The mission of the Special Olympics Athlete Leadership is to empower athletes to develop leadership skills and utilize their voices to assume meaningful leadership roles, influence change in the Special Olympics movement, and educate communities around the world that results in positive life changes. Special Olympics Rhode Island provides training and support for athletes who desire to expand their participation in Special Olympics, both on and off the competition field. Through Athlete Leadership, athletes receive training and have opportunities to hold positions of leadership and influence.

Athlete Leadership allows Special Olympics athletes to help shape the future of the Special Olympics movement and ensure all people with intellectual disabilities have the opportunity to participate in sports training and competition that is fun and fair.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run is part of an international campaign for Special Olympics coordinated and managed by all divisions of Law Enforcement officers and officials throughout the world whose mission is to raise dollars and awareness of the Special Olympics Movement worldwide.

Special Olympics Rhode Island is the only state to include police departments, fire departments, RI State Police and the Dept. of Corrections as part of the Torch Run, providing significant financial and public awareness for Special Olympics Rhode Island. They also provide volunteer support to all Special Olympics Rhode Island Area and State Competitions by presenting medals to our athletes.

At its most basic level, the Torch Run is an annual running event in which representatives from police, fire, corrections and state police run the “Flame of Hope” throughout Rhode Island to the SORI State Summer Games Opening Ceremonies.

Special Olympics Young Athletes is a sport and play program for children with and without intellectual disabilities (ID), ages 2 to 7 years old. Young Athletes introduces basic sport skills, like running, kicking and throwing.

Young Athletes provides children with activities and games that meet their individual skill and ability levels, while allowing them to play together in a fun and inclusive environment. Children of all abilities take part, and they all benefit.

Children learn how to play with others and develop important skills for learning. Children also learn to share, take turns and follow directions.
Young Athletes is a fun way for children to get fit. It is important to teach children healthy habits while they are young.
Young Athletes is easy to do and fun for all. It can be done at home, in schools or in the community using the Young Athletes Activity Guide and basic equipment.

Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® is the world’s largest public health program for people with intellectual disabilities, delivering basic levels of health information and care to thousands of people each year.

At Special Olympics events, Healthy Athletes® offers free screenings in several areas – vision, hearing, dental and fitness assessments – providing free care when possible and making referrals to local practitioners when appropriate. For some athletes, the screenings are the first time they have ever seen a doctor.

Beyond screenings, Healthy Athletes® also trains healthcare professionals about the needs and care of people with intellectual disabilities.

In Rhode Island, the following Healthy Athletes® initiatives are offered at the State Summer Games: Opening Eyes, Special Smiles, FUNfitness and Healthy Hearing.

A MedFest is typically offered in January for SORI athletes to have their medical forms completed.