By Sarah Opdahl

New Fairfield Middle School (NFMS) students have a host of extracurricular athletics options, and one program that stands out for its inclusive efforts is Unified Sports. A registered part of Special Olympics, Unified Sports is self-defined as working “to combine athletes with and without intellectual disability (or developmental delay) on sports teams for training and competition.”

The thriving—and growing!—program is beloved at NFMS. Principal Karen Gruetzner praised, “I can’t say enough about this program, our coaches, and the many benefits of Unified Sports. The program promotes inclusion, teamwork, and a sense of belonging. We have witnessed not only joy and laughter, but also meaningful friendships, genuine connections, and heartfelt celebrations of one another’s successes. Unified Sports fosters empathy, respect, and understanding while creating a more connected school community where students feel valued, included, and celebrated.” Coach and Special Education Teacher Jude Rieger, who co-leads the program with fellow NFMS Coach and Physical Therapist Kerynne Mino, agrees and said, “It’s exciting to see Unified Sports grow because every student deserves opportunities to participate, build friendships, and represent their school. Offering different activities recognizes that students have different interests, strengths, and support needs.” Broader support for the program also serves to provide representation, meaning “students can see a place for themselves on a team and know that their contributions matter. As a special education teacher, I believe that sense of belonging is an essential part of the school experience,” Rieger emphasized.

While the amount of participants varies from typically twelve to eighteen students, this fall’s volleyball program currently includes twenty-five athletes of all abilities. Last year NFMS participated in basketball in the winter, which Reiger explained “tends to be a favorite,” and corn hole was spring’s competitive activity. She went on to say, “Participation varies by season and student interest,” and the highlight is “seeing students find an activity they are excited about and develop confidence as the season progresses.”

The athletes practice once a week for one hour for six weeks per sport/season, and Rieger shared, “As coaches, we follow the Special Olympics and CIAC guidelines. The goal is to provide appropriate support while maintaining meaningful opportunities to learn, contribute, and be challenged.” She said, “We want every student to have an active role. We are able to use adapted equipment and modify the games to promote success. For example, during volleyball we have a larger, softer ball and allow serving closer to the net. During Basketball, in addition to the standard basketball hoop, we hang additional hula hoops from the net to serve as targets that score points. Overall, it is the atmosphere of inclusion and working together as a team that ensures everyone makes a meaningful contribution while having fun.” 

The active practices “include skill development, teamwork, and preparation for games or events. We have played in tournaments at other schools in the past and look forward to future events that we can participate in. These events give students opportunities to represent their school and connect with peers beyond their own building,” Rieger remarked.

While the students are certainly having fun, their parents are also overjoyed, “Families have shared that they are happy that we have a unified program within the middle school and support the teams.  There are limited opportunities for parents of children with special needs to socialize. This has created an outlet for those relationships to develop,” Rieger pointed out.

In addition to learning athletic skills and about good sportsmanship, Rieger and Mino encourage students to take on leadership roles, including coordinating activities during practice, promoting the program, and recruiting other students. Their “priority is helping create a welcoming program that promotes community inclusion where each student can participate meaningfully. We also communicate with parents and families which affords them the opportunity to connect,” Rieger said.

With an active program also in progress at New Fairfield High School, the students have teams to naturally move into. Rieger noted, “Currently, our middle school and high school teams get together at least for one or two practices.  We also have had common events where we cheer each other on. We would love to continue strengthening that connection so students enter high school knowing there is a team and a community waiting for them. Familiar faces and shared experiences could help make that transition more comfortable.” In addition to Unified Sports, there is also a Unified Theater program in the high school, while the middle school has the Rebel Junior Players, offering inclusive opportunities in the arts.

At its heart, Rieger says, “Unified programs help make inclusion part of everyday school life. Students with and without disabilities get to know one another as teammates, develop mutual respect, and celebrate each other’s accomplishments. Our hope is that those relationships extend beyond practices and games into classrooms, hallways, and the wider community. Every student deserves to feel valued and to have a place where they belong.”

Mino and Rieger would love “to see the program grow in ways that reflect students’ interests. That could include additional sports, more connections between schools, and expanded opportunities in theater, music, art, or other clubs. Growth also means making sure we have the staffing, equipment, and support to offer meaningful participation. Student voices should help guide those decisions.” For now, special education students are wonderfully leaning into the offerings provided.