Their goal is to recruit new Youth Leaders and advocate alongside them for inclusion in their schools and communities, using sport as the catalyst to bring everyone together. In addition to engaging Youth Leaders, Kevin and Dawson want to reach athletes and other youth with intellectual disabilities who have experienced bullying to show them they aren’t alone and provide a more accepting place for them. Kevin and Dawson hope this will raise awareness about people with intellectual disabilities and reduce biases against them.

Kevin and Dawson’s project will begin with the recruitment and training of 10 new Youth Leaders. Over the next six months, they will engage these newly-trained leaders in expanding Unified activities at existing Unified Schools through soccer trainings and competitions. They will also use Facebook and other social media platforms to share information about inclusion and intellectual disabilities to raise awareness in their community. Together, Kevin and Dawson plan to continue inclusive sports after the project to promote the continuity of knowledge-sharing and create an accepting environment for all. Kevin was able to find his voice through Special Olympics and his life is forever changed because of that, so as members of the Unified Generation, Kevin and Dawson want everyone else to know about the positive effects of inclusion and Special Olympics too.