Program areas at Special Olympics Nebraska
Unified champion schools - unified champion schools (r) is an education-based program that uses sports and education programs to activate young people to develop school communities where all youth are agents of change - fostering respect, dignity and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities for thousands of children across Nebraska. This program includes the young athletes program, which provides early program opportunities to children with intellectual disabilities as young as the age of 2. Unified sports partners those with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. Free classroom curriculum provides service-learning curriculum and lessons to students.
Health - the vision for Special Olympics' health program is to create a world where people with and with out intellectual disabilities have the same opportunities to be healthy. To achieve this vision it is necessary to address the barriers, including lack of access to quality health care, education and resources. To achieve equal access to quality health care for people with id, changes must occur. Those changes impact individuals, families, providers, communities, governing bodies, and other stakeholders who influence health and wellness. Special Olympics aims to create a tipping point for inclusive health whereby inclusion of those with id becomes integrated into mainstream health policies, programming and services, training programs and funding streams.
Summer games - nearly 3,000 people including Special Olympics athletes, coaches, volunteers, family members, spectators and honored guests attend summer games in omaha, Nebraska. Fans in the stands cheer on athletes as they compete for medals and ribbons in 4 sports - aquatics, athletics, gymnastics, and volleyball. Along with competitions, summer games features free health screenings, a young athletes demonstration, live music, 2 athlete dances and a closing banquet. The games kick off with a celebratory opening ceremony that includes first-rate entertainment and the parade of athletes.
Other competitions and programs include: spring games, fall games, world games, flag football, and unified bowling.