MIAMI GARDENS – The Miami Dolphins FOOTBALL UNITES™ program hosted over 100 students and faculty at Hard Rock Stadium for Special Olympics Florida’s South Florida Youth Summit presented by Wells Fargo.
The Youth Summit is a full day inclusive leadership development conference that introduces student leaders, both with and without intellectual disabilities, to Special Olympics Unified Champion School program inspiring them to become agents of change on their school campuses. The leadership training was provided by University of Miami Medical School’s Mailman Center for Child Development.
Guest speakers included Jason Jenkins, Miami Dolphins Senior VP of Communications and Community Affairs; Shirelle Jackson, University of Miami’s Senior Associate Athletic Director; Patrick Morris, Wells Fargo Community Affairs Officer and Haley Moss, Attorney, Author, Artist and Autism Advocate.
“It is critical to recognize the power of our future leaders to help shape attitudes about acceptance and inclusion,” said Special Olympics Florida CEO and President Sherry Wheelock. “Today’s summit was a testament to the shared desire to continue building communities that embrace all abilities. We are beyond grateful to our students, athletes, the Miami Dolphins, Wells Fargo and the University of Miami for their support to elevate these important and necessary conversations.”
Special Olympics Florida now boasts 222 Unified Champion Schools throughout the state. Southridge Senior High School in Miami-Dade County was recognized this year by ESPN as a top five Unified Champion School in the nation.
These efforts and initiatives align with the Miami Dolphins’ goal to level the playing field through the power of teamwork to inspire a healthier, more educated and united South Florida community. Dolphins Chairman of the Board & Managing General Partner Stephen Ross and Dolphins players created the FOOTBALL UNITES™ program as a way to bring positive social change. The Miami Dolphins organization believes it is important to be inclusive of the diversity and aware of the intersections that make up South Florida, uniting groups of different races, genders, sexual orientations, identities, abilities and faiths around the power of football. Information on the FOOTBALL UNITES™ program can be found here. To learn more about RISE, visit here.
About Unified Champion Schools
Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program is aimed at promoting social inclusion through intentionally planned and implemented activities affecting systems-wide change. With sports as the foundation, the three component model offers a unique combination of effective activities that equip young people with tools and training to create sports, classroom and school climates of acceptance. These are school climates where students with disabilities feel welcome and are routinely included in, and feel a part of, all activities, opportunities and functions.
This is accomplished by implementing inclusive sports, inclusive youth leadership opportunities, and whole school engagement. The program is designed to be woven into the fabric of the school, enhancing current efforts and providing rich opportunities that lead to meaningful change in creating a socially inclusive school that supports and engages all learners. What a Unified Champion School “looks like” can vary greatly from school to school, based on the needs, goals, schedules and other factors unique to each school; but the basic building blocks remain the same.
About Special Olympics Florida
Special Olympics Florida provides year-round sports training, competition, and health services to children and adults with intellectual disabilities, at no cost to the athletes or their caregivers, as a means to achieve physical fitness, self-esteem, socialization skills, and the life skills necessary to be productive, respected, and contributing members of their
communities. To learn more, visit www.specialolympicsflorida.org.
