Federal Grant to Keep Students Unified
By Ken Lipshez | Sports Correspondent at October 19, 2023 | 9:00 am | Print
The Connecticut Association of Schools’ endorsement of a $1,000 federal grant earmarked for reinforcing the Unified Sports program will enable New Britain High School to hire a coach and finance expenses related to staging games and practices.
The grant was procured through Special Olympics Project Unify, a program fusing sports and education, encouraging students to develop a kinship with intellectually disabled comrades that fosters change through respect and dignity.
Unified Sports, registered under Special Olympics, unites equal numbers of intellectually disabled students with those without disabilities on a sports team to cultivate a conduit of friendship and understanding while eradicating preconceptions.
The program has been active for a number of years, said Len Corto, NBHS director of physical education and interscholastic athletics, but was in need of funding.
“Our problem has been the cost of the busing,” he said. “It becomes cost prohibitive.”
The grant award agreement from CAS Unified Sports director Lou Pear and state Special Olympics Connecticut president Robert Doherty stipulates that $700 will go toward transportation, uniforms, equipment and other supplies which “foster and support social inclusion.”
The other $300 will be a stipend for the head coach. Corto said that health teacher Sandra Dichner, a leader in the program, would be the coach.
“Our monies will be used for tournaments in indoor soccer, basketball and volleyball,” said Dichner, who will be assisted by special education teachers AnnGail Limnios and Pat Twomey. “The CLIMB (Career Ladder to Independence, Maturity and Beyond) will be the main recipient of the grant.
“We have practices and games in the three sports emphasizing social inclusion amongst the students. In basketball, three athletes with intellectual disabilities would play with two ‘partners,’ or regular education students.
“The tournaments promote positive interaction, kindness and care of all. All receive medals and are thrilled with active participation and new friendships. Our regular education students love being a part of Unified Sports and many stay involved throughout their high school years.”
And beyond, in some cases, as Corto punctuated through personal experience.
“When I was at South Catholic in the late ’70s, we had a program that wasn’t exactly Unified Sports but would take kids from group homes and bring them into the gym for activities like wheelchair bowling,” he said. “One of those kids who helped out in that program (Danny Mangiafico) is now a special-ed teacher in the district.”
Unified Sports came to fruition in 1992 when Connecticut Special Olympics formed a partnership with the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC). Events are organized throughout the school year at elementary and middle schools as well as the high schools.
The secondary schools program features participation in statewide tournaments in soccer, basketball, volleyball and softball. The elementary school programs are non-competitive designed to develop skills.
