Students in the Butler Area School District are once again teaming up to overcome disability and stigma in a spirit of inclusion.
The Special Olympics Unified Sports Track and Field team practices with the varsity track team on most Mondays and Wednesdays. A group of 14 students from Butler Senior High School (both with and without Intellectual Disabilities) have been practicing all season integrated with Butler’s Varsity team at the SHS.
Three away meets and one home meet are scheduled this year. The group had their first meet earlier this month with Highlands and Armstrong School Districts and took second place.
A home meet against Seneca Valley including the varsity team as well as the Special Olympics Unified Track team will start at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday at the SHS Track. Visiting “Unified Teams” will include Central Valley, Kiski, Fox Chapel, and Armstrong School Districts.
Unified Track events include the 100-meter, 400-meter, 800-meter, and relay races as well as Shot Put, Long Jump, and Modified Javelin.
This effort has been ongoing for five years with students and administrators previously assembling a Best Buddies Program and a Unified Sports bocce team.
