FSU Special Olympics Handbook was a youth-led initiative at Florida State University to create a comprehensive, accessible guide for club leaders that outlines roles, responsibilities, events, and the club’s mission. The handbook aims to ensure long-term sustainability and support for future leaders and volunteers. It was developed through collaboration with current leaders and feedback from athletes, partners, and supporters during a Unified Day event.
Youth leaders Jehanne Caudell, Gabriella Braithwaite, Ryan Ouhmidou, and Mikayla Wallace were inspired by the need to preserve institutional knowledge and ensure smooth transitions between club leadership teams. They were motivated by the support of mentors and the impact of Special Olympics in their community. Seeing the power of inclusion firsthand encouraged them to build a resource that empowers future advocates.
The team hired handbook writers, gathered input from their club’s executive board, and conducted a survey at a kickball event to gather community perspectives on inclusion. They worked to refine the language and format of the handbook to make it clear and useful for future leaders. The final document was distributed alongside pre- and post-handbook surveys to test understanding of club operations.
The project engaged 4 youth leaders, 5 Special Olympics athletes, and 27 peers without intellectual disabilities, and introduced 6 new youth leaders. Although there were no social media impressions or new Unified Schools added, the impact lies in the internal sustainability and leadership development fostered through the handbook. The resource is now available for future FSU Special Olympics club leaders to use and grow from.
The leaders are most proud of the strong community support they received and the collaborative process of sharing knowledge. They overcame challenges like communication gaps and managing a large board by practicing patience and consistent check-ins. They plan to take the empathy and leadership skills gained into future advocacy and community work.