Written by Makaylia Ocheskey,
APS Executive Internship Program Student
Aurora Central and Rangeview high school athletes with and without intellectual disabilities recently went toe-to-toe in a Special Olympics basketball game! This game was less about the final score and more about the sense of community it provided, not only for the players, but also their fans - which included the Denver Nuggets.
You read that right. The Denver Nuggets' own hype team, cheerleaders, and mascot, Rocky, attended the game to cheer the players on. Nuggets cheerleaders gave an entertaining half-time performance while Rocky worked the sidelines, joined the game, and kept the crowd amped up. The Nuggets' hype squad threw team merchandise out to the crowd and showed support for the athletes by holding up "Make Some Noise" signs. One could have mistaken the event for an official NBA game.
"Special Olympics has really boosted all of the boys' confidence," said Jessica Barajas, mother of one of the Aurora Central players. "This allows them to make social connections and puts a huge smile on their faces when just making a basket."
Barajas shared that her son has enjoyed "inclusive sportsmanship and incredible bonding experiences" throughout his time on the unified team.
Aurora Public Schools is proud to partner with Special Olympics as it has helped strengthen our community in many ways. The Colorado Special Olympics has given those with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to excel as competitive athletes since 1969. Robert "Beau" Doherty is credited for starting the unified sports movement, bringing students with and without intellectual disabilities together to create connection, drive, and equity in the school setting. There are now more than 400 schools across the state that offer unified sports, seven of which are in APS.
At Aurora Public Schools, we believe that every student has unique abilities that we must recognize and engage. We are excited to continue supporting unified teams and helping our students reach their full potential.