Students in the Butler Area School District are coming together to overcome disability and stigma in a spirit of teamwork.
Butler Area School District Supervisor of Special Education Aaron Royhab told our newsroom, “This is a first for our school district. But its pretty rewarding and special to see our kids with disabilities and our kids without disabilities interacting in such a positive way.”
Special Olympics approached Butler Area School District and several others in our area about starting a Unified Sports Bocce team this year and the district says the experience has been a success so far. Two teams of eight disabled and non-disabled students each practice twice a week.
A fundraiser for the teams is planned today at Texas Roadhouse. Between 5 and 8 p.m. Wednesday, the restaurant will donate 10% of each order placed by anyone who brings in a team flyer from the Butler Area School District website. According to Royhab, the money will then be used by the team to bring classmates together.
“I think the team is interested in getting the word out with this positive activity, creating social networking opportunities so its not just the sporting event itself to bring kids with and without disabilities together but other social activities and events, just spreading the word and creating that positive school culture,” Royhab explained.
The teams have two competitions open to the public coming up in February. The first is in the Butler Senior High School Gym at 4 p.m. February 6th.
Here is the link to the flyer diners should bring with them to Texas Roadhouse Wednesday in order to contribute to the Butler Bocce Team https://www.basdk12.org/cms/lib/PA01916433/Centricity/Domain/4/unified%20sports%20fundraiser.pdf
Written by Ryan Saeler
