Creek’s Unified Sports program has been bringing inclusion into the Creek community since 2011, when the Special Olympics of Colorado group started to encourage unified champion schools. Unified sports includes both athletes with and without disabilities, and encourages sports activities and community bonding.

Unified sports is a way to bring the community together and create bonds between special needs athletes and ‘typical’ peers. Through this, the program has helped contribute to a more inclusive environment.

“Unified sports creates a more inclusive community that leads to acceptance, understanding, compassion, and patience,” Unified Sports coordinator Kathryn Canham said.

Students in Unified Sports feel this program has positive effects. Sophomore Ryan Debolt views unified sports as an opportunity to spend time with his friends and get to play sports with other students. Debolt played for the unified basketball team in 2022 and plans to play again for the 2024 season as well.

“I like unified [because] I get to see my friends,” Debolt said. “And I like to play [with] all the boys.”

People without disabilities are able to participate in Unified sports as well. Junior Neveah Barta began helping with unified bowling when she became a part of the Students Support Students class, and found she really enjoyed working with ILC students.

According to Barta, unified sports helped her realize that there are communities in sports, and even outside of sports, for people with disabilities. She feels that unified sports is a way to include everyone at Creek, whether they have a disability or not.

“It impacts who participates in it [because] they feel like they’re not getting left out,” Barta said. “It’s something everyone can do.”

Unified sports is committed to creating inclusion worldwide. According to Special Olympics Colorado, 1.2 million people worldwide participate in unified sports. Creek is just one of many schools that has integrated the program into their community.

According to Elizabeth Smith, a unified coach, the program has grown tremendously over the years, both in athlete and peer participation. Unified creates a strong connection between those who participate by bringing students with and without intellectual or physical disabilities together.

“The community is one of the most positive, heartfelt, and inclusive communities I have ever been a part of,” Canham said. “Students refer to the unified community as their family.”