Special Olympics school and youth programs build a credible connection for teachers, parents and advocates who wish to activate children and youth who have intellectual disabilities.

The program focus is to facilitate sports training, education and athletic competitions for students who have intellectual disabilities, while building awareness and linkages for non-disabled students. Teachers include Special Olympics in their physical education curriculum, while registering student athletes with Special Olympics.

The association allows for a host of benefits including:

• Educational resources
• Training and competition
• Working with Special Olympics to develop after school clubs which provide extracurricular and interscholastic sports

Special Olympics in the school is an opportunity for students to participate in quality athletic and sport experiences, as an extra-curricular activity. This is about removing barriers and taking the Special Olympics program to prospective athletes in their school environments.

Everyone's a Winner!  The student athlete, the school, the teachers and Special Olympics Ontario. Along with the already documented benefits to sport participation, additional benefits provided specifically by the Special Olympics include:

• Young people with an intellectual disability participating in lifelong sport activities and competition
• Schools providing opportunities for all students to experience school spirit and pride