Unified sports continue to strengthen Salem’s commitment to inclusion by creating supportive environments and fostering lasting friendships between students with and without disabilities. With the addition of Unified Basketball, Salem now offers a Unified sports opportunity in every season, giving students of all abilities the chance to compete, grow, and build meaningful connections throughout the school year.
“I’ve been trying to get them involved in every opportunity I can. They started with Unified Bocce and really enjoyed it, then moved on to Unified Bowling. When someone asked if they were going to join the Unified Basketball Club, they jumped at the opportunity,” said Jackie Knapp, a foster parent of two student-athletes in the club.
Through Unified Bocce in the fall, Unified Bowling in the winter, and the Unified Basketball Club in the spring, Salem provides students of all abilities with opportunities to participate, compete, and represent their school. While Unified Bocce and Unified Bowling compete against other teams in the area, the Unified Basketball Club focuses on skill development and creating an inclusive environment where all students can enjoy the sport of basketball.
“It means a lot to be able to offer them something they may not have the opportunity to experience through traditional sports programs. Playing basketball gives them an outlet to challenge our body physically, socially, and emotionally. It allows them to get tired or make a mistake and learn how to process those events in that moment,” said Julie Myler, the advisor for the Unified Basketball Club.
The impact of Salem’s Unified sports programs has been evident throughout the district. Because students of different ability levels often spend much of the school day in separate classes and programs, opportunities for meaningful interaction can be limited. Unified sports helps bridge that gap by bringing students together as teammates, creating an environment where friendships can grow and barriers can be broken down.
“Unified Bowling taught me that everyone is different and has different capacities, and that people do things in different ways. It taught me to communicate and understand other people’s perspectives. Everyone gets the job done, it just sometimes takes different steps,” said Owen Eddy, a 9th grader at Salem and a member of the Unified Bowling team.
“They come into the season being strangers in a way and leave as friends. They do look out for one another, connect in the hallways, and build relationships that extend beyond sports. Sometimes we just need someone to look for us if we are lost or need help. Unified sports create those friendships that lead to those meaningful moments,” said Myler.