Project UNIFY®

Special Olympics Unified Partner Internship Pilot Program

“Project UNIFY’s goal is to activate young people to develop school communities where all young people are agents of change- fostering respect, dignity and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities by utilizing the programs and initiatives of Special Olympics.”

“Passing a ball across a court or racing down a field side by side  teaches tolerance and acceptance in a way that is rarely achieved in the classroom. “

            For Fall of 2009 Special Olympics MD Montgomery (SOMO) has designed a pilot Internship Program to offer high school volunteers a meaningful volunteer experience through the concept of Unified Sport. Unified Sport ® is a concept developed by Special Olympics that combines people with and without disabilities of similar age to train and play together as peers with the goal of building sports skills, friendships, leadership and understanding in our Youth Communities.

            The SOMO Project Unify Internship will provide education and training to include:  a general orientation to Special Olympics, Coach Certification training (resulting in a Special Olympics International Coach Certification) in Coaching the Special Olympic Athlete, American Heart Association first aid and CPR. Additionally, the Intern will serve as an Assistant Coach and Unified Partner in one of the four target sports programs: Cross Country Running, Golf, Tennis and Soccer.

                                                Snapshot of Time/Date commitment:

• Volunteer Orientation  ( if you have not already attended a SOMO General Orientation)

             scheduled for Wednesday August 5^th. 7:00-9:00 PM at the Potomac Community      Center – Falls Road, Potomac

• Coaching the Special Olympic Athlete Coach certification course: Wednesday September 9 – Potomac Community Center 7-9:00 PM
• Specific Sports Coaches training in CC Running, Golf, Tennis and Soccer:

      Thursday September 10^th- Potomac Community Center – 7-9:00

Unified Sport Training and Play:

• You will train with and play with your sport-specific program on the dates and times designated for each sport: Note that each sport program has a different start date.

Cross Country Running: Sundays, Good Counsel High School, 10-11:30

      Begins August 30 with an additional mid-week training TBA. State Tournament         Saturday  October 31 at Mt. St. Marys College in Emmittsburg

Golf: Wednesdays, Falls Road Golf Course beginning August 13^th, with at least three    additional Saturday Golf Tournaments scheduled in Sept. and Early October.

Tennis: Sundays at Cabin John Community Tennis Courts (next to Ice Rink) 4-5:30

      Begins August 23 with State Tournament on Saturday October 31 at Mt. St.Marys

Soccer: High School Unified League, Sundays, Wootton High School 4:30-6- Sept 20

This Pilot Internship will provide a unique and meaningful volunteer experience. You will complete the internship with an impressive resume addition, an International Special Olympics Coach Certification, American Heart Association certification in first aid and CPR as well as the experience of a lifetime: the opportunity to give back to sports and to make a difference in the life of a person with intellectual disabilities.

*The dates for the American Heart Association first and CPR training will be planned to accommodate our participants to the best of our ability and will follow the fall season (dates to be scheduled for mid-November)

The commitment is greater than the usual SSL program , but the reward is far greater than you will believe!

We will be very selective in choosing the 12 High School Candidates for this Pilot Internship. Please complete the application (copy may be downloaded from our website) and mail or scan and email to Pam Yerg, Area Director for Special Olympics Maryland-Montgomery. (Pam Yerg- 10204 Colebrook Ave. Potomac, MD 20854 - jeyclan@verizon.net)