On Thursday, Nov. 30, Guilderland Central School District Unified Sports and Athletics Coach Allison Relyea was presented with the Unified Champion Award by Special Olympics New York at the Italian American Community Center. This was an extraordinary honor for Mrs. Relyea, who’s advocacy for students is unparalleled; she has been instrumental in creating an inclusive environment at Guilderland High School, most notably by leading the development of the unified sports program.
Under the guidance of Mrs. Relyea, unified athletics at GHS has grown significantly since its inception. The school currently offers four unified sports, bocce, bowling, basketball and cheerleading, in addition to physical education classes, with more than 250 students participating. Mrs. Relyea coaches the Unified Bocce and Unified Bowling teams, in addition to teaching two sections of unified physical education. She notes that at least one unified sport is offered each athletic season, affording “each and every GHS student an equal opportunity, year-round, to participate in athletics.”
According to research provided by Special Olympics, unified athletes experience a boost in their self-esteem after participating in unified sports and coaches see improved confidence, enhanced communication and social inclusion. Unified sports has also opened the door to additional opportunities for students at GHS, including participation in Special Olympics competitions and clubs such as Best Buddies. A majority of Mrs. Relyea’s work focuses on providing as many of these experiences as possible, which increases acceptance of people of all abilities while reducing stigma and bullying. Moreover, it fosters a welcoming culture, which is an essential component of creating an inclusive environment at GHS.
Mrs. Relyea’s hard work and contributions to unified sports and inclusivity have led to national recognition. Special Olympics recently named GHS a Unified Champion School, demonstrating a commitment to inclusion by both the school and GCSD. GHS was first certified as a Unified Champion School in 2019; schools must reapply for banner status every four years. This achievement is no small feat, as GHS is one of just 11 schools in New York to receive the Special Olympics Unified Champion School national banner recognition. Schools are required to meet 10 standards of excellence, which include offering unified sports in at least two seasons throughout the year, inclusive youth leadership and whole-school engagement activities. With the success of the unified sports program at GHS, the district hopes to expand unified offerings beyond athletics to areas such as art or music. There’s also discussion about implementing a unified sports program at Farnsworth Middle School in the 2024-25 school year.
The impact of Mrs. Relyea’s work goes beyond a national recognition title and thriving unified athletics program; students are the ultimate beneficiaries of her incredible efforts. GHS senior Alyssa O’Connor is a member of the unified bocce and unified bowling teams, and participates in unified physical education. When asked how becoming a unified athlete has affected her, Alyssa said “I feel like I have evolved around a lot of things and it just feels normal. It feels good….the hallways are great because I have great friends and great teachers.” She goes on to say that the unified sports program “makes me feel included and like I’m part of a whole team.” With words as powerful as Alyssa’s, it’s clear that Mrs. Relyea is a champion for all students and is exceptionally deserving of this award.