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South Stokes selected for national Special Olympics study.

Stokes News, The (Walnut Cove, NC) - 9/2/2014

Aug. 29--South Stokes High School has been selected as one of four North Carolina high schools, along with high schools from Colorado and Michigan, to participate in a two-year study about the impact the Special Olympics Project UNIFY initiative has in schools for students with and without intellectual disabilities.

"We are very excited about it," said South Stokes High School Principal Wayne Duggins. "Any time we can put something on campus that will provide more opportunities for students to get involved is wonderful. We are hoping it may open somethings up for kids who would not otherwise be involved."

The study, conducted by Special Olympics North America in collaboration with the Center for Social Development and Education (CSDE) at the University of Massachusetts Boston, is designed as a control trial to understand how Project UNIFY, in its full implementation, impacts those involved; changes students' perceptions, understanding, awareness and actions; and increases interactions between students with and without intellectual disabilities both in and out of school.

The schools will use a playbook published by Special Olympics to develop and implement inclusive sports opportunities, an inclusive student club and at least three school-wide activities during the 2014 -- 15 academic year. The Special Olympics Programs in Colorado, Michigan and North Carolina will provide guidance, support and resources to the schools.

Duggins said they were still in a planning phase at South Stokes, but that staff were coming together to start a student club this year.

"It should be for anybody who wants to be involved," he said, noting that they also plan to have a variety of special events during the school year. "There will also be a lot of surveys we get out to our students to see where kids attitudes are towards students and people with disabilities."

The study will measure differences among the schools in terms of the inclusive programming that Project UNIFY provides.

"North Carolina has been one of the leading states in implementing Special Olympics Project UNIFY initiatives over the past six years so we're very honored to have been selected to help with this important study that will lead to national implications," said Keith L. Fishburne, president/CEO of Special Olympics North Carolina.

During the two-year research project, data will be collected from students, teachers, staff and administrators through surveys, site visits, interviews and update logs to assess Project UNIFY implementation. The corresponding analyses will increase Special Olympics understanding of how schools implement Project UNIFY's three components and identify promising practices to assist other schools to successfully integrate Project UNIFY.

The controlled study design will involve pre- and post-assessment of students, teachers, and the entire school, and comparison to schools that do not implement Project UNIFY. The control trial of Project UNIFY will also demonstrate the importance of implementing all three components of Project UNIFY in a coordinated, integrated way and the feasibility of starting Project UNIFY and all of its components in a single academic year.

Project UNIFY is an initiative of Special Olympics that began in the United States six years ago with the support of a grant by the US Department of Education. The past six years of intense program evaluation have laid the groundwork for this rigorous and thorough control assessment of the benefits and value of Project UNIFY for students, teachers, and schools.

Special Olympics Project UNIFY is an education and sports based program started by Special Olympics to build an inclusive environment among youth with and without intellectual disabilities, as well as empower them to become youth leaders in their schools and community.

Nicholas Elmes may be reached at 336-591-8191 or on Twitter @NicholasElmes.

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(c)2014 The Stoke News (Walnut Cove, N.C.)

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