On May 3, the inaugural Ithaca Unified Basketball Team played its first game. The Unified team, which connects students of all abilities, is unique in that it combines students with developmental disabilities with other athletes to create a more inclusive environment for those who are unable to participate on JV and varsity sports teams. The team, which is coeducational, was created through ICSD’s partnership with the Special Olympics, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA), and the Southern Tier Athletic Conference (STAC) to create a Unified Sports league in conjunction with 15 other school districts.
Unified Sports is part of the Special Olympics’ Unified Champion School initiative, one designed to push schools to create acceptance for students with intellectual disabilities. This initiative has been funded by the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs to build inclusion and tolerance in schools around the nation. Upstate New York is one of the first regions to see the development of Unified Sports leagues.
After three months of planning and one month of practice, the Unified Basketball Team landed a 38-30 win against Owego in the Bliss Gym. The game, one of three home games that the team hosted this season, included announcers and a thrilling halftime skills competition for students in attendance.
The 14-person team is coached by special education teacher and former girls’ Varsity basketball coach Stephanie Valletta. She told The Ithaca Voice, “It’s just incredible to see the kids come together and teach each other the skills and kind of build that community. It’s really amazing.” Valletta went on to say that none of the students on the team were basketball players before, adding, “it was awesome to see them learn together.” The players had been practicing twice a week for several weeks before their first game of the season.
Trey Osadchey, a senior member of the Unified Sports team, said, “Our team is meant to create an opportunity for individuals who have never had this experience before. Together we have made a team that is thriving, and we have essentially created a family, too.”
There are approximately 4,500 elementary, middle and high schools across the U.S. that have a Unified Sports team, and 1.4 million people worldwide take part in Unified Sports according to the Special Olympics website. The website notes that its primary goal is to “break down stereotypes about people with intellectual disabilities in a really fun way.”
The Unified basketball team had a total of six games this year, with their last home game on May 24. The team enjoyed its first season, and will look to continue breaking barriers in the IHS community in coming years.