Ava, 16, is a student at Johns Creek High School in Georgia, USA. She has been actively involved with Special Olympics for 4 years and created the Special Olympics Unified Club at her high school in order to raise awareness about the importance of inclusion. She has previously volunteered for events such as the Polar Plunge at Acworth Beach, where she led the Spread the Word Campaign tent, the Healthy Athletes Horse Show Event, and another Special Olympics Georgia Winter Game.
Ava noticed that many students at her high school who are members of the Special Olympics Unified Club are active members, however the rest of the school is not aware of the club itself. She believes that the club needs a larger outreach to promote the importance of inclusion for people with and without disabilities.
Ava will create a Unified March Madness by inviting students with intellectual disabilities from high schools nearby to Johns Creek High School to compete in sports (track and soccer). Ava is also planning to conduct a workshop for people with and without intellectual disabilities to learn how to use digital platforms that are globally accessible.
When the project is complete, Ava hopes to encourage youth to not volunteer with Special Olympics as a one-off occurrence, but rather volunteer with Special Olympics Georgia more regularly. Ava also hopes to promote education on inclusion specifically those ideals enforced by the Spread the Word: Inclusion.