Historically in many school districts, students with disabilities did not always have access to full academic and co-curricular programs. However, the Fairhaven Public Schools has prioritized access and inclusion for all students with new inclusion programs.
In the spring of 2019, Mrs. Allaire teamed up with physical education teacher Karen Stachowiak, athletic director Chris Carrig, and physical education teacher Chris Foster to create Fairhaven’s first-ever unified basketball team.
For the first time, Fairhaven High School students with disabilities could play basketball with other schools and alongside other teen mentors. One year later, the Unified Sports team began competing in a second sport, Unified Track.
The addition of unified sports to Fairhaven High School has a lasting effect on teachers and students. “I never coached regular sports at Fairhaven High School, but being a part of this team was more amazing than any other sport,” Karen Stachowiak added.
“I’ve been on the team for four years. At first, I didn’t like playing on the court,” said Emma, a unified athlete. “But now I love it! This team is like my second family.”
Austin added, “The team is positive, no matter what happens. Even when we win or lose.”
Shortly after the spring of 2019, unified athletes got a chance to compete in Fairhaven’s first ever Special Olympics competition. Prior to the event, Special Olympic athletes received a hero’s sendoff as the entire school flooded the hallways to cheer on their fellow students.
The Unified and Special Olympics team endured a pause during the COVID-19 pandemic but roared back in 2022. Competing in two seasons of unified sports, competing in the Southcoast Special Olympics, and even qualifying for the Massachusetts Special Olympics Championship for Track and Field.
Expanding Inclusion Across the District
Angela Allaire’s goal is simple: “The goal is to foster more peer connections for our students.”
In the next few months, Fairhaven High School will receive a national banner from the Special Olympics International to hang in the gymnasium. As inclusion at Fairhaven High School progressed, the special education team still saw more work needed.
The special education department at Fairhaven High School now explores new opportunities to engage students with disabilities across the district. One pilot program being developed pairs high school students with disabilities into mentor groups with similar middle and elementary school students.
The community also seeks to include more middle and elementary students during unified sports games and Special Olympics competitions and expand their unified sports offerings.
Unified Club: A New Inclusion Program
At Fairhaven High School, Angela Allaire and Karen Stachowiak now organize the school’s first Unified Club, inviting students of all ages and abilities to meet once a month to play games, create arts and crafts, or perform in a dance and karaoke party.
“We really want to get a variety of students altogether.” Angela Allaire said of the Unified Club. We want to foster connections with all students, not just athletes, and get kids who are not into sports to connect with our students.”
The Unified Club meets on the last Tuesday of each month. Anyone is welcome to join and attend the unified club's meetings.
About Special Olympics Massachusetts:
Special Olympics Massachusetts provides year-round sports training, athletic competition and other related programming for over 14,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities across the state in over 500 sporting competitions each year. Through the power of sport, the Special Olympics movement transforms the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. Learn more, http://www.specialolympicsma.org