A Special Olympics unified team that pairs general education students with those with disabilities will represent the Iola Special Olympics Unified Sports team and the state of Kansas in the 2022 National Unified Champion School Program.
Ann Bates, a special education teacher for USD 257, has coached the district’s Special Olympics team for the last three years.
“Our unified team is basically a program that pairs our Special Olympic athletes with their non-disabled peers at school,” Bates said. “What I like most about this program is the relationship it creates between those two populations of people.”
“Having this opportunity creates a reciprocal relationship between the two and I think makes both parties more well-rounded, more empathetic, it’s a benefit for both.”
The local teams consist of bowling and bocce ball in the fall, basketball and cheerleading in the winter, and track and field in the spring. The fall sports teams consist of year long seasons.
“It’s been really fun. I like seeing how our team has grown,” said Bates. “Seeing the kids get to participate and be involved in things outside of school is really cool and seeing how they grow and develop into their own personalities. Getting a chance to do things they thought they couldn’t do is rewarding.”
Bates had to prove the program meets 10 specific standards to qualify for such a prestigious award. These standards included creating and sustaining an inclusive environment and proving the school was providing different activities for inclusion.
Bates said leading these teams has also forced her out of her comfort zone and pushed her to be more of an advocate for the students she works with on a daily basis. Coaching has also taught Bates how to be more outgoing and help the kids succeed in whatever they hope to achieve.
“I think it’s kind of pushed me to make sure they’re always included in their school setting. It’s been a huge thing for me because when I first started teaching I was not very outgoing,” said Bates.
“I really just love the community of Special Olympics. When we go to events we get to see students and athletes from other schools and you see them year after year, you get to watch them grow up, they get to see their friends from other schools. Since I coach elementary through high school, I get to see the growth too,” said Bates.
The Iola Unified Special Olympics team will be honored with a banner ceremony before one of the upcoming football games yet to be announced.
