Prior to COVID-19, Lander, Wyoming, had a strong Unified Special Olympics team (a team made up of both disabled and nondisabled members), providing an important connections between kids with different abilities. The program fell apart a few years ago, leaving a gap in care and community for Lander’s special needs youth between 5 and 14 and also contributing a lack of connection with their peers. One local parent (whose child had aged out of the program) saw the need to bring the team back. Working with the school district, she came up with a plan to relaunch unified teams in snowshoeing, swimming, bocce ball, softball, bowling, and Esports (allowing Unified Team athletes to compete with others across the country and giving Lander athletes a peek at the wider world right from home.) LOR’s funding will help support the purchase of equipment and uniforms needed to launch the Unified teams, facilitating connections between Lander youth with and without disabilities.
