Heritage Athletics program has teamed up with the Virginia Special Olympics to participate in Unified Sports Teams.   Unified Sports works to unite people with our without intellectual disabilities to play on the same team.  The principle behind the effort is simple:  training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.

This winter, Heritage student were able to get involved in Unified Basketball,  a heartwarming, super fun sport.

Unified Basketball had practices every Thursday, during whole school lunch. The program also hosted a tournament where they played other schools’  Unified Teams, and even played the Heritage Boys Varsity Basketball Team.

Mrs. Kolbas, the Unified Basketball sponsor, values the unique qualities that Unified Basketball brings to the Heritage community. ¨Unified Basketball has a way of making everyone feel included and special.  Our group consists of students with and without disabilities – to watch them play together and have fun together is so heartwarming,¨ said Kolbas. ¨My favorite part of Unified Basketball is seeing how much fun EVERYONE has and how impactful even the smallest of things can have on bringing joy to a student’s day.¨

Mrs Kolbas thinks everyone should do Unified Basketball. ¨Why  wouldn’t you?? ” she said. “Not only is it fun, it’s a great way to makes friends and BE a friend to someone else.  Being a part of Unified Sports at Heritage is so important because it gives you the special opportunity to be an example for acceptance and inclusion in our Heritage community.¨