Sehome Unified sports activities program forges a legacy of inclusivity in tradition and the neighborhood. The program has established an setting that gives entry to aggressive sports activities, whereas nonetheless creating bonds, empathy and understanding inside sports activities.
“It makes it clear within the school context that people with disabilities or special needs are as much a part of the community as anyone else,” mentioned Don Helling, coach of Sehome’s Unified Soccer group. “They just need to be given the opportunity to participate in the community at the level that they’re able to.”
In this system, the athletes are individuals with types of communication and studying disabilities. Additionally, there are athletes with sturdy expertise with the game or some with none in any respect.
“What’s so unique about unified is the pairing,” mentioned Sheryl Kent, dad or mum of Kai Borton, a senior in Sehome’s Unified program.
Helpers, able-bodied members of the group, are at each observe and recreation, enjoying with the athletes to keep up the group’s inclusive environment and make sure each athlete leaves a recreation with a optimistic expertise. That might be something from organising a aim for a participant on both group or having an athlete change groups so that they have extra alternatives to play, Hellings mentioned.
“My favorite part, I think, is the relationships I’ve made,” Emma Jenkins, a helper on Sehome’s Unified Sports program. “The fact that someone trusts me to be their friend, learn from me and I can support them is really meaningful to me.”
Jenkins has been a helper for soccer and basketball since her sophomore 12 months. As a helper, the aim is to foster sportsmanship throughout the group, quite than specializing in profitable. She has additionally been a cheerleader since her freshman 12 months, the place she has had the chance to cheer for Unified Basketball, Jenkins mentioned.
Athlete Lauren Gongwer performs a excessive Kick throughout the beginning lineup earlier than its halftime match on Oct. 16. Along with being on the Sehome Unified Soccer group, Gongwer additionally cheers for Sehome’s Varsity Cheer group. // Courtesy of Craig Collier and from WWU athletics
On Oct. 16, Sehome Unified Soccer participated in its newest recreation. Unified Soccer groups from throughout the county got here collectively to play throughout halftime of the Western girls’s soccer recreation on Robert S. Harrington Field.
Although Unified’s Soccer season is in the spring, Bellingham faculties had an sudden alternative to carry out a few of their gamers from the earlier season to hitch the occasion.
In observe and when enjoying in opposition to one other group, Unified Soccer makes certain all of the gamers can take part on the degree they’re in a position to, Helling mentioned.
“When you’re competing with other schools, you try your best to win and to do your best, but you don’t do it at the expense of the other team missing opportunities to play,” Helling mentioned.
Kent’s son, Kai Borton, is a senior at Sehome High School and has been collaborating in Unified Sports, varsity sports activities and Special Olympics since he was in elementary college.
This 12 months, Borton is making use of to varsities throughout the nation with particular applications for individuals with disabilities. Kent partially credit this system for exhibiting her and her son that it’s an possibility.
“I think unified sports has played a really big role in opening a lot of eyes, opening my eyes, opening Kai’s eyes, opening other people’s eyes, even opening his peers’ eyes,” Kent mentioned.
Athlete on Sehome’s Unified Soccer group, Kai Borton, prepares to strike the ball throughout the match on Oct. 16, on Harrington Field. Sehome’s Unified Soccer season will start in the spring. // Courtesy of Brady Rufner and from WWU athletics
The program unifies children, not solely on the sector, but in addition continues that tradition in the college, in addition to making ready them for after they go away the college setting, mentioned Kent.
“We’re able to see that kind of friendship and camaraderie spill out of just the practices and games, but also in the classroom and in the halls,” Hellings mentioned.
Hellings’ daughter, Lauren Gongwer, has been collaborating in Unified Sports for seven years. Gongwer participates in Special Olympics, the college’s varsity swim group, unified soccer and basketball, Hellings mentioned.
This 12 months, Gongwer began on the varsity cheer group, the place she’s discovered to do methods, flying, cheers and excessive kicks. From her time on cheer and in unified sports activities, she’s been in a position to create friendships on and off the sector, Gongwer mentioned.
“I do like cheerleading, and also I love hanging with my captain, Emma. She’s amazing,” Gongwer mentioned.
The program permits entry to aggressive sports activities that the children wouldn’t have in any other case. In the sports activities program, the athletes be taught what they might in every other varsity sport, nevertheless it additionally emphasizes uplifting each other, which you don’t see usually in aggressive sports activities, Helling mentioned.
“The thing that’s incredible about Unified is that you walk in there and you’re like, ‘oh, my god, I wish this was the way the world was all the time,’” Kent mentioned.
Katherine Konicke-Dunlop (she/her) is a Sports and Recreation reporter for The Front. She is in her second 12 months at Western, majoring in News and Editorial Journalism. Katherine might be noticed out mountain climbing or along with her eyes glued to a e-book in her spare time. You can attain her at [email protected].