Description

SO Get Into It is a service-learning curriculum developed to introduce Special Olympics and explain intellectual disability to youth and encourage them to become involved in the movement.

Goals

The overall goal of SO Get Into It is to increase the participation of children and youth with and without intellectual disability in Special Olympics by establishing school-based Special Olympics programs and activities. This encompasses several related goals:

•  To develop new constituencies and leaders for the Special Olympics movement;

•  To promote greater understanding and acceptance of similarities and differences in others among school-age youth;

•  To involve school-age youth in a variety of activities centered on Special Olympics, including participation in Special Olympics sports and events that will enable them to play a positive role in their schools and communities.

Content

SO Get Into It is made up of four lesson plans compatible with curriculum standards in areas of language arts, social studies, history, health and physical education and other areas:

•  Awareness: Learning how stereotypes are formed and can be hurtful

•  Understanding: Overcoming unfair treatment, adversity and discrimination

•  Inspiration: Goal setting with Special Olympics athletes as role models

•  Action: Encourage students to make a difference in school and community with Special Olympics

Highlighting the Special Olympics Athlete

SO Get Into It highlights Special Olympics athletes and their compelling stories of overcoming odds and living their dreams.

•  “Attitudes” (Grade level K-2): An introductory, fast-paced four minute video set to music consisting of inspirational footage from the 1999 Special Olympics Summer World Games. Achievements of Special Olympics athletes are highlighted.

•  “The Loretta Claiborne Story” (Grade levels 3-8): A 90 minute long Disney movie about Special Olympics Pennsylvania athlete Loretta Claiborne, set mostly during her school days. It focuses on goal-setting, achieving dreams, overcoming barriers and celebrating differences. A companion video about Loretta appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show is also provided.

•  “NICK News Special Edition: A World of Difference” (Grade levels 3-8): This 21 minute show was filmed in March 2001 at the Special Olympics World Winter Games and focuses on youth with and without intellectual disability discussing their friendships, celebrating their differences, and seriously discussing the changes that need to be made in public perception of those with intellectual disability.

•  “Changing Attitudes – One Person at a Time” ( Grade levels 6-12): A 46 minute video filmed at the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games and Global Youth Summit in Dublin, Ireland, with part one highlighted by youth from the Summit speaking with Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa about overcoming obstacles (18 minutes). Part two focuses on the young people in a forum with celebrities such as Colin Farrell and Samantha Mumba discussing ways that all can be an inspiration and a leader in your school and community.

•  “Life in the Shadows” (Grade level 9-12): This 10 minute video, much of it in black and white, describes the long-standing practice of institutionalizing people with intellectual disability in the United States . It illustrates the current trends leading towards more community based involvement and acceptance for people with disabilities.

Global Reach

•  SO Get Into It has been distributed for free since 2001 to over 3,500 primary through secondary schools with 1.2 million students in more than 60 countries translated into 15 languages including Arabic, Bahasa, Chinese, French, Hebrew, Hindi, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Karakalpak, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish and Turkish.

The SO Get Into It curriculum kit also includes the following teacher resources:

•  Activity cards for action-oriented involvement with Special Olympics

•  Fact sheets on Special Olympics, intellectual disability , Unified Sports Ô , Partners Clubs®, and other related topics

•  Web-related resources and links relevant to the lesson plans

•  Special Olympic athlete bios and stories with pictures

•  Local Program contact information

SO Get Into It marketing opportunities

• Market to an untapped consumer base, including people with intellectual disabilities, their families, caregivers and the thousands of education professionals and students dedicated to Special Olympics' mission
  
• Naming and Logo rights on materials
  
• Sponsor and provide volunteer support for in-school activities and events
  
• Sample products at school activities and events
  
• Distribute coupons, educational material, and product information
  
• Market direct-to-consumer