The Power of Inclusion

I recently wrapped up my second year playing as a partner athlete on the Unified Basketball team at Peninsula High School. Our program continues to grow year after year, with 45 students participating this season in basketball, cheerleading, and winter guard. Unified Sports is a division of the Special Olympics that joins students with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team.

We had several new Unified athletes this year. One of my favorite new teammates to work with was Flynn. At the beginning of the season, Flynn stood off to the side and did not want to be included in many of our practice activities. However, we quickly discovered that his favorite candy is Skittles, and he would do just about anything for some. This became such an important part of our team that it even became our team name, “Team Skittles.”

This past fall, Peninsula extended the Unified experience into the school day by starting a Unified homeroom. Both my younger brother, Pete, and I were placed in this homeroom class and now get to spend time during the school day with several of our Unified teammates, including Flynn. This helped build Flynn’s trust in us on the basketball court and allowed a friendship to develop.

As each week passed, we would work on new skills together, such as dribbling and shooting, and how we could best support him as his one-on-one peer. This is where we found out that Flynn was really talented at dribbling two basketballs at once, something I can’t do myself.

Karen and Eric, Flynn’s parents, echoed the same thoughts: “We have witnessed Flynn demonstrating skills we didn’t know he had, such as dribbling two basketballs simultaneously, sinking three consecutive free throws, and we could even see him modeling his peer mentor’s sideline ball handling. From early on in the season, it was clear that his mentors and peers were helping him gradually push beyond his comfort zone. Even seeing him perform a simple bounce pass to a teammate during a game filled us with happiness, knowing that he was contributing to a unified goal and having the feeling of belonging to a team. Seeing this growth in him has made us extremely proud and happy for Flynn.”

I watched Flynn grow and develop during his first year playing Unified basketball, but I also noticed just as many positive changes in my younger brother, Pete. This was also Pete’s first year playing Unified basketball as a partner, and at the beginning of the school year, he was uncertain if he was going to join. I’m so glad he did.

We have four weeks of games during the Unified season, and I noticed that as they progressed, Pete and Flynn became better partners and friends. You could tell on the court that Flynn trusted Pete and that Pete was learning ways to positively encourage Flynn’s participation. But when we went to Chik-fil-A as a team after our final game, I saw a new side of my brother. When our very large order was brought out to the dining room, I watched as my brother ensured he got Flynn’s order first before he took care of his own. He got Flynn settled and made sure he was good to go and then went back for his own food. Pete and Flynn are teammates and friends, and they ate their lunch together, surrounded by their Unified teammates. This is why Unified sports are so special. They provide a place where everyone is connected, everyone is included, and everyone matters.

Unified basketball has given me more than just an opportunity to play another sport at Peninsula High School. It has provided me with a deeper understanding and appreciation for teamwork, empathy, and the power of inclusion. It has shown me that success is not just measured by the number of games your team wins, but rather in the confidence you gain, friendships you form, and the small yet powerful interactions that happen on and off the court.

My experience this year has reaffirmed my passion and love for Unified Sports and the impact it has on everyone involved. I loved seeing Flynn grow more comfortable and engaged on the court, watching Pete becoming more selfless and connected to his teammates, and witnessing the joy that radiated from every athlete, every partner, every coach, and every parent. Next year, I’ll be a senior, and I can’t wait for one last year on the court with my Unified teammates.

John Browand is a junior at Peninsula High School.