Ryerson Elementary Receives National Banner Recognition from Special Olympics

Madison, CT – Special Olympics CT recently announced that Ryerson Elementary School, a Special Olympics Unified Champion School, is receiving national banner recognition for its efforts to provide inclusive sports and activities for students with and without disabilities. Ryerson School is receiving this honor as a result of meeting national standards of excellence in the areas of inclusion, advocacy and respect.  

Special Olympics International Chairman Timothy Shriver congratulated the KHR community on this important recognition.

“Your school community has shown impressive determination and is helping us move towards our collective goal of creating a truly ‘Unified Generation’ of young people who embrace differences and lead social change,” he said in a letter. “You are literally redefining the future as you make your communities more inclusive of people with intellectual disabilities, and in doing so, making the world a more accepting place for all.” 

Ryerson is among a select number of schools to receive this distinction and will receive a banner to be hung in the school. Ryerson will also be included on a list of other schools around the country who have achieved this distinguished status.

“It is our honor to be awarded this distinction,” said Ryerson Principal Kelly Spooner. “The Ryerson Staff have committed themselves to this program and have created fun and engaging activities for all of our students every year. I am thrilled to have the efforts of our staff and students to be recognized in this manner.” 

Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® is a strategy for schools Pre-K through university that intentionally promotes meaningful social inclusion by bringing together students with and without intellectual disabilities to create accepting school environments, utilizing three interconnected components: Special Olympics Unified Sports®, inclusive youth leadership, and whole school engagement.