Some Special Needs students are seeing their popularity go *quote*... Through the roof... In some of our high schools.
The growth of the Unified Program is playing a major role.
Special Olympic teams are often thought of as a roster filled with special needs athletes. But the game changes a bit when part of the squad is made up of "General Ed" student or "partner athletes".
"It's not a special ed basketball team it's a basketball team," says Grandview head coach Cory Chandler.
At Grandview the Unified Program started with cheer squad. A track team is coming soon, but it's basketball that is really catching on.
"That's one of the sports I really, really, like to play," Grandview senior Michael Bush told 9News.
The program has doubled in size at Grandview in just its second year.
"It's a lot different, we have a lot more people, and a lot more help," junior Shane Powell said.
The program is doing well enough that these kids got to take their game to Colorado's biggest stage: The Pepsi Center. Halftime of the Nuggets-Hornets game; Grandview versus Chatfield. Pretty nerve-racking for some playing in front of the Nuggets crowd, others were not fazed.
"Just pay attention and focus on the game," said Powell.
As cool as it was to play at Pepsi Center the Unified games at the high schools are almost better.
"We always have a huge crowd and everyone is very supportive," says Overland senior Ciara Brown.
Playing in between the J.V. and varsity games the stands are packed with peers and parents, and the games are competitive.
"We've been told we want this to be as normal a sports as possible," said Chandler.
Which means the players celebrate the ups and have to suffer thru the downs. In the end, everyone comes out on top.
"We could win a game, or lose a game and it's all the same to them. It's just the fact that they get to play and have teammates," Grandview partner athlete Aly Padgett told 9News.
"Everytime the kids have fun and that's all we really want. and putting a smile on their face is the best feeling," said Brown.
The athletes get a lot out of this. As far as the partner athletes:
"I felt like they were my partner and the they taught me more than I could ever imagine teaching them," said Padgett.
Teammates helping each other. It's exactly what being a team, is all about.