UCS

Unified Champion Schools®

Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® is an opportunity for schools pre-K through university level to intentionally promote meaningful social inclusion. This is accomplished by bringing together students with and without intellectual disabilities to create accepting school environments, utilizing three interconnected components: Special Olympics Unified Sports®, inclusive youth leadership, and whole school engagement. There are currently over 7,600 schools in 49 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The Special Olympics Texas UCS program is celebrating over 15 years and is active on hundreds of campuses.   Be a part of the #InclusionRevolution!

Unified Champion Schools is in collaboration with Unified Interscholastic Sports and Activities. The Unified Interscholastic Sports rules for track and field and basketball can be found by clicking here. (The UIL Unified Sports entry form can be found here).  

Register online now for the 2023-2024 School Year

View our active schools below (the guide can be toggled on and off with the arrow square on the top left of the map). 

Who can become a Unified Champion School?


Any school can become a Unified Champion School! Public, private, charter, pre-k, elementary, middle school, high school, college or university, schools with or without special education programs—whatever the setting, if you’re ready to take the leap, we’ll work with you to make it happen.  

Why become a Unified Champion School? 

Live Unified
Unified Champion Schools aim to create a culture of understanding, empathy, and authentic inclusion in schools that change how students interact with one another daily.

Spread respect
Unified Champion Schools aim to be an ally in targeting intolerance, hate speech, and bullying.

Be positive
Data shows that youth who were involved in a Unified Champion School held more positive attitudes toward peers with and without intellectual disabilities.

Build a better world
Unified Champion Schools is the tipping point for school culture and climate as all young people collaborate with school and classroom leaders to create a more open-minded and accepting community.

Increase self-confidence
Students with disabilities reported higher self-confidence and self-esteem after the Unified movement was introduced to their school.

Build a better life!
84% of students participating in the Unified Champion Schools movement said it was a positive turning point in their lives.

Student Monthly Reports

Have your student leaders complete the monthly reports to share the amazing things happening on your campus by emailing UCSinfo@sotx.org!

Three Component Model

INCLUSIVE YOUTH LEADERSHIP

Inclusive Youth Leadership is an all-embracing leadership club for every student. They gather to create social opportunities and lead their schools in the advancement of inclusion.

UNIFIED SPORTS & ACTIVITIES

Unified Sports combines students with and without intellectual disabilities on teams and encourages them to participate in inclusive sports training and competition.

WHOLE SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT

Whole School Engagement includes bullying prevention and inclusive promotion initiatives that reach entire school populations through engaging, inspiring, and optimistic events.

Sports and so much more, including Robotics. 

We are proud to offer a Unified division of Robotics.  

REC FOUNDATION VEX ROBOTICS COMPETITIONS (One Page info document) Linked HERE. 

REC FOUNDATION VEX ROBOTICS COMPETITIONS (Longer-format document) Linked HERE. 

NATIONAL STANDARDS (PDF resources):

Our UCS Banner Schools:

  • Alamo Heights High School (Alamo Heights ISD)
  • Brady High School (Brady ISD)
  • Dripping Springs High School (Dripping Springs ISD)
  • Hendrickson High School (Pflugerville ISD)
  • Judson High School
  • Lewisville High School
  • Liberty Middle School 
  • Lone Star Elementary School (Keller ISD)
  • Port Neches Groves High School
  • Texas Tech University
  • Samuel Clemens High School
  • Spring Woods High School
  • TCU 
  • UTRGV

Join the Inclusion Revolution!  

Are you ready to join the Inclusion Revolution and bring the Unified Movement to your school?  

ucsinfo@sotx.org

Additional contact: 

Already a UCS Campus?

Join the Healthy Leap program.  Please fill out the questions below so that we may get in contact with you to provide more information on Special Olympics Texas Healthy Leap Programming! 

Heathy Leap Interest form is found by clicking here.  

Have questions or need to fill out a Partnership For Inclusion form? Email UCSinfo@sotx.org!