The Effects of Special Olympics Unified Sports

Abstract

People participate in sport for a variety of reasons. Being part of a team creates a sense of social inclusion and allows peers to interact with one another in a positive manner. For individuals with intellectual disabilities social inclusion is sometimes harder to achieve and sport is a tool that can help aid in creating that inclusion. Special Olympics and Unified Sports are two leading programs that help incorporate sports into the lives of those with intellectual disabilities. The purpose of this synthesis is to determine the effects of the Special Olympics Unified Sports programs on participants.