By Heather Monahan
Features Editor
Sports is one of the most internationally-recognized pastimes. It can bring people together and form bonds between different groups.
That was the idea Unified Sports built upon. The program, funded by the Special Olympics, brings together athletes of the same age, regardless of whether or not they have disabilities.
“It’s to promote appropriate social interaction with peers,” Paula Scraba, O.S.F., said. “What it’s done in the school system is just unbelievable.”
Scraba, an associate physical education professor, said using sports as a way to bring children together and reduce bullying in schools has been wildly successful.
“So sports, which is an American pastime you might say, is something everybody can relate to,” she said. “It’s raised the self-esteem and confidence of these kids who, otherwise, would have walked down the hallways with their heads down.”
Both Olean and Allegany-Limestone school districts have Unified Sports teams, and students in Scraba’s classes help out where they can. However, Scraba said one student sparked a new connection between the groups and the school.
According to Scraba, Chelsea Bowker, a graduate education major and member of the women’s basketball team, was the catalyst of the Olean team. It started when she taught at Olean Middle School last winter.
“I really got to know the kids and was asked if I wanted to volunteer to help out,” Bowker said. “I asked some of my teammates if they would like to help out because, to the students, it was a big deal to have college athletes teaching them how to play basketball.”
One of her teammates involved in the program is sophomore business management Emily Michael. Michael said she has seen sports bring kids together regardless of their differences.
“They don’t worry about each other’s abilities so much, but working together and playing for the team,” Michael said. “Coming together as a team (and) doing something they all love puts who they are behind them and allows them to focus on the bigger picture – teamwork.”
Bowker agreed and said Unified Sports helps students accept classmates who might be different than them.
“It gives students a chance to realize that everyone is different, yet there are many similarities,” she said. “Athletes with special needs are kids just like everyone else who are trying to fit in.”
The Unified Sports teams from both Olean and Allegany-Limestone will come together tonight to compete for the first time since their spring games at Bonaventure. At halftime of the women’s game, which tips off at 7 p.m. tonight, more than 50 kids from both schools will be taking to the Reilly Center court to play in front of their family members and fans.
“It could be a life changing event for some of these kids,” Bowker said. “Not only are they going to be playing on a college court, but they’re going to have fans cheering them on, which will be a great experience.”
Michael said she believes having the kids play on Bob Lanier Court tonight will help garner attention for the Unified Sports program.
“It will raise awareness to the community and those who are interested in basketball,” she said. “It will send a good message to show that the Bonnies and the community are in collaboration with each other (and) always looking for ways to work together, which is important.”
