Unified sports pair Special Olympics with track and field, basketball teams at Dartmouth High
Dartmouth High just finished its one-year trial of unified sports, integrating Special Olympics athletes into both track-and-field and basketball teams with partner students.
Patty Doherty, a member of the Special Olympics of Massachusetts, said Dartmouth would be a “perfect” school for unified sports. Teacher John Breault and hockey coach Michael Cappello worked to get the program going two years ago. Since then, the track team has more than doubled in size, jumping from 13 to 29 athletes from last season.
Breault, now in his second year as a teacher at Dartmouth High, has been volunteering with the school’s Special Olympics summer program since he was in the fifth grade. He now coaches the unified sports teams.
Students compete based on ability, not based on whether they are a special needs student, Breault said.
The program has created an outlet where, four times a week, special needs students can socialize. Special Olympic athlete Michaela Tosta, 17, is a 100-meter and long-jump competitor. "I get to hang out with my friends," he said.
Amy Koczera, 18, is a "partner," a non-special needs athlete. She appreciates the "great attitude" all the athletes bring. "It's really rewarding," she said.
Partner Colby Serpa, 16, started on the unified basketball team and enjoys playing alongside such a diverse group of people.
The Special Olympics hopes to see unified sports teams become varsity teams in the future, Breault said.
Both co-ed teams are a collaboration between the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) and the Special Olympics.
