SO WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF UNIFIED?
UNIFIED BASKETBALL IS A PROGRAM THAT PARTNERS UP REGULAR EDUCATION STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS TO FORM A TEAM THAT COMPETES AGAINST OTHER SCHOOLS. TEAMS ARE DESIGNED TO BE CLOSE TO 50% PARTNERS AND 50% ATHLETES. THE TEAMS COMPETE WITH 3 SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS ON THE COURT AND 2 REGULAR EDUCATION STUDENTS ON THE COURT FOR ONE TEAM AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
THE OBJECTIVE OF UNIFIED IS TO TEACH AND LIVE A LIFE OF INCLUSION AND TO ALLOW OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR ALL PEOPLE.
THE PROGRAM IN RHODE ISLAND IS SPONSORED BY SPECIAL OLYMPICS AND THE RHODE ISLAND INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE.
CHARIHO BEGAN COMPETING IN THE UNIFIED BASKETBALL LEAGUE IN THE SPRING OF 2012, AND IN THE FALL ADDED A UNIFIED VOLLEYBALL TEAM. THE PROGRAMS WERE STARTED WITH THE HARD WORK OF CHARIHO ADVOCATE AND LEGEND MICHAEL PATTON.
EVENTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
EACH YEAR CHARIHO ATTENDS A UNIFIED PROM HOSTED AS A SENIOR PROJECT BY THE PARTNERS OF A LOCAL SCHOOL.
IN 2013, THE BASKETBALL TEAM GOT TO MEET AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH FORMER OLYMPIC FIGURE SKATER MICHELE KWAN.
2012-STATE CHAMPIONS
2013 RUNNER-UP
2014 RUNNER-UP
2015 STATE CHAMPIONS-UNDEFEATED SEASON
2015 BEAT CHARIHO FACULTY TEAM
2015-VOTED SHOWCASE CINEMAS AND 92 PRO FM TEAM OF THE WEEK
2016-HOPE TO HELP END THE USE OF THE R-WORD IN CHARIHO HALLS AND CLASSROOMS
2017 Division III State Champions (6-1 regular season) (3-0 playoffs)
2017 First Annual Michael Patton Award Winners: Dan Koussa and Aimee Louzon
