UCS Engagement Opportunities

SOMD_2020_VirtualMOVEment_Web_UCS_Header

Looking for ways to help students of ALL abilities within your school experience inclusion? Use this timeline and the offered resources to plan upcoming Unified programming and celebrations. This semester offers plenty of chances to educate, inspire, and INCLUDE! To request support from the Unified Champion Schools teams, email ucs@somd.org with any questions.

Spread the Word >> Inclusion

is the time to Spread the Word!

Download the Spread the Word Toolkit

This toolkit is a brief, one-stop-shop for anyone celebrating the benefits of an inclusive learning environment. Whether you’re a student, parent, teacher, administrator, or any other champion of inclusion -- read on!

Questions? Want to know more? Contact us: UCS@somd.org or (410) 242-1515, ext. 142.

What

SPREAD THE WORD >> INCLUSION, a campaign created and reimagined by youth, is intended to promote the creation of a new reality: inclusion for all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This campaign empowers grassroots leaders across Maryland to engage and influence their schools, communities, and workplaces by advocating for language and practices that are respectful and inclusive of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

When

Who

Why

How

Take the ONLINE PLEDGE to join the Inclusion Revolution! Have members of your school & community tell SOMD why they pledge to value and live inclusion. Your pledge may even be featured on our site!
Print out this PLEDGE FLYER and distribute it far and wide. Designate a common area to hang up flyers, make inclusion visible and obvious!
Make SOCIAL POSTS about your pledge to Spread the Word>>Inclusion. Social media tools will be provided on our page.
Use SOMD’s Spread the Word VIRTUAL BACKGROUND for all your video meetings and classes to help start conversations about inclusion!
Gear up with some INCLUSIVE T-SHIRTS!

In 2019, Spread the Word to End the Word became Spread the Word, with a focus not just on the elimination of a word but on the creation of a new reality: inclusion for all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The global engagement campaign remains committed to empowering grassroots leaders to change their communities, schools, and workplaces, now through a call to their peers to take action for inclusion. With this change, Spread the Word will give community leaders around the world the tools needed to create socially inclusive places to learn, work, and live.

Sample Group Messages

Pledge Flyers

Virtual Backgrounds

Sample Social Posts

Make a Pledge!

We have become more aware of the importance of social connection for overall well-being. Our communities have taken action for inclusion and encourage everyone to celebrate champions of change in their schools, workplaces, and communities.

First Name *

Last Name *

School / Organization *

What’s your affiliation at the identified school? * What’s your affiliation at the identified school?

Email *

Phone

Tell us how you will be a CHAMPION of CHANGE in your school and community. *

I’d like to be added to the following Special Olympics Maryland communications:

Volunteer Opportunities with my local county program; e.g. coaches, team admin support, chaperones.

Volunteer Opportunities supporting the state program; e.g. event volunteers, admin support.

Area Memo distribution - a bi-weekly email update

IMPACT Newsletter - a quarterly distribution via Mail Chimp focusing on celebrations, highlights, starting with a "President's Message"

Unified Champion Schools Newsletter- a monthly distribution with school specific information such as whole school engagement celebrations, inclusive student leadership opportunities, and other SOMD highlights

I give permission to Special Olympics Maryland to use and allow others to use the picture, video, name, voice, and words outlined here for the purpose of promoting Special Olympics Maryland programming." *

Yes

reCAPTCHA

MOVE Challenge

For 4 weeks, Special Olympics Maryland and other schools throughout the state are to compete in the Special Olympics Maryland Unified MOVE Challenge!

Sample School Messaging

For the next 4 weeks, our [school name] community is joining Special Olympics Maryland and other schools throughout the state to compete in the Special Olympics Maryland Unified MOVE Challenge! This challenge is designed to offer a space of inclusion by forming Unified teams of 2 to 10 participants and tracking minutes of intentional physical activity and exercise.

Our goal is to show our school-wide commitment to inclusive fitness practices while also competing with other students and schools throughout the state of Maryland. This challenge runs from April 4-29th, let's show our (insert school mascot) spirit!

Why should you MOVE?

Physical activity and exercise is one of the best ways to improve an individual's overall health and wellness.
Exercise is best defined as planned, structured, and intentional movement intended to improve one’s physical fitness. Exercise will help improve cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition.
Did you know...Students who are physically active tend to have better grades, school attendance, cognitive performance, and classroom behavior.

Let’s prove that [school name] chooses to include! Now, let's get MOVING!

Sample Social Media Messaging

Hey (insert school mascot), did you know that from April 4-29th we will be participating in the Special Olympics Maryland Unified MOVE Challenge? Check out these resources to learn more and get ready to MOVE!! https://bit.ly/3AW7jhy #InclusiveHealth #MOVESOMD
Looking for more ways to get moving throughout the day? (insert school name) and Special Olympics Maryland encourages you to check out these AWESOME resources to help you get MOVING! #InclusiveHealth #MOVESOMD
From April 4-29th, (insert school name) will be participating in the Special Olympics Maryland Unified MOVE Challenge. This 6 week challenge is designed to get our school MOVING while competing against other students and schools throughout the state of Maryland. Go (insert school mascot)! #InclusiveHealth #MOVESOMD

Morning Announcements

Good morning/Hello, (school mascot)! For the next 4 weeks, we will have students participating in the Special Olympics Maryland Unified MOVE Challenge! This challenge is comprised of both students with and without disabilities and is a great way towards building a more inclusive world for people of ALL abilities. So here are some interesting facts about the importance of exercise and physical activity:

(Choose some or all of these facts to read):

1. Physical activity keeps the body strong and healthy and can improve mental health by decreasing symptoms of depression, anxiety, pain, and loneliness
2. Physical activity can also improve focus, school performance, sleep, and energy levels

Children and adolescents aged 5-17 years should do at least an average of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise per day.

Regular Physical Activity can:
1. Improve muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness
2. Improve bone health
3. Reduce the risk of various secondary conditions (such as hypertension, stroke, diabetes, heart disease, and depression)
4. Help maintain a healthy body weight
5. Increase cognitive performance
6. And reduce adiposity (aka body fat)

How to Get Involved

Special Olympics Maryland Unified MOVE Challenge: Learn about the various benefits of exercise and physical activity and why it's so important to get our students MOVING throughout the day.

Get outside! If it is a nice day, have class outside to allow students to walk and learn all at the same time.
Get that sidewalk chalk out! Reserve a part of your school’s parking lot or sidewalk that people will see, and have everybody write out their favorite ways to get MOVING. This will be a great opportunity for others to gain inspiration and try new ways to exercise.
- #InclusiveHealth
- #MOVESOMD
- #MOVEUnified
- #UCS
- #ExperienceInclusion
Offer before or after school Unified Fitness Clubs that offer students an opportunity to participate in physical activity of their choice. Get creative!
We encourage you to take a look at our website and check out our MOVE Challenge Resources! These will provide you with all the tools necessary to help your school take part in this Challenge! (Flyer Link, Activity Tracker, School Resource Guide and Registration Link)

As you complete activities, please post pictures to SOMD Virtual Movement Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/2863037773816713) using hashtags #InclusiveHealth and #MOVESOMD. If you’re using Instagram or Twitter, please tag @SPOlympicsMD and #MOVESOMD. No Social Media? No problem? Email pictures to healthyathletes@somd.org for us to include in our social media!

WHAT: A 4-week challenge encouraging faculty and students of all abilities to track minutes of exercise and intentional physical activity. By participating, students will compete against other teams from different schools throughout the state of Maryland.

WHEN: The Maryland MOVE Challenge will run from Monday, May 2nd - Tuesday, May 31st, 2022. Registration opens April 4th and close April 29th.

Schools are invited to participate in the SOMD Maryland Move Challenge, a 4-week movement challenge that measures minutes of exercise and intentional physical activity. Using a state-wide leaderboard, students can track their progress against other teams throughout schools in Maryland! Participants have the opportunity to earn great incentives for them and their schools! Use the above activities to get your classroom or school engaged.If you have any questions please check out the School Staff Resource Guide please reach out to Kayla Shields at kshields@somd.org

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