Chancellor David Banks, left, plays bocce on Monday in New York. (Cayla Bamberger/New York Daily News)
Chancellor David Banks, left, plays bocce on Monday in New York. (Cayla Bamberger/New York Daily News)
New York City Public Schools and the Special Olympics have partnered to offer exciting new sports programs for students with significant disabilities. The initiative, announced by Chancellor David Banks, includes physical education and after-school sports for children with autism, emotional challenges, cognitive delays, and other disabilities requiring intensive support in the city’s specialized schools. The program aims to help students develop new skills, build confidence, establish a connection to school and community, and make new friends.

More than 1,700 students are expected to participate in track and field, volleyball, and basketball during school hours, while 200 high school and middle school students can join after-school basketball and bocce teams. The program is funded by $300,000 in city money and $50,000 from the Special Olympics, covering training, equipment, and uniforms. The initiative is expected to improve attendance rates and create an inclusive and welcoming environment for students with disabilities.

New Sports Opportunities for NYC Public Schools Students due to a partnership between the Special Olympics

NYC Public Schools and the Special Olympics are partnering to provide new sports programs for children with significant disabilities. Chancellor David Banks announced the initiative at the Hunters Point Campus in Long Island City, where he shared that the programs would include physical education and after-school sports for students with emotional challenges, autism, cognitive delays, and other disabilities requiring intensive support in District 75’s specialized schools. District 75 is the city’s district for children with significant challenges.

Chancellor David Banks, left, plays bocce on Monday in New York.

Sports Encourage Skill Development and Community Connection

According to Chancellor Banks, sports are vital in helping students develop new skills, build confidence and leadership, and, most importantly, make new friends and establish a connection to school and community. More than 1,700 students with disabilities are expected to participate in track and field, volleyball, and basketball during school hours. Additionally, 200 high school students with and without disabilities can join an after-school basketball team, while 200 middle school students can sign up for bocce.

Students Building New Friendships Through Sports

Four weeks ago, students from the District 75 program at the Riverview School and the Academy for Careers in Television and Film started practicing basketball together. The team, known as the Otters, won their first game last Saturday. Omar Shuaib, a sophomore at the Academy for Careers in Television and Film, said that before this program began, he most likely would never have met his new teammates from the Riverview School. Now, they are more than teammates—they’re friends. “The purpose of our team is not only to play basketball but also to help my new teammates learn and develop basketball and social skills,” he added.

Chancellor David Banks speaks with a participant on Monday in New York.

Improved Attendance Rates

According to research by the Special Olympics, student-athletes feel included and have a more positive perception of school, which can improve attendance rates. Children in District 75 schools are far more likely to be chronically absent from school than the city average. Superintendent Ketler Louissaint believes that any time students feel included and belong, it encourages them to come to school even more. While over 68% of students with severe disabilities missed one in 10 days last school year, compared to 41% citywide, Louissaint said the situation today is much better, but did not provide a current rate.

Funding for the Program

Before the pandemic, about half of students in District 75 programs were regularly missing school. Mayor Adams over the summer stated that the city had “betrayed” significantly disabled students following a Daily News exposé in July on dire conditions in the specialized schools. The program is funded by $300,000 in city money and another $50,000 from the Special Olympics, which will be used to train coaches, provide sports equipment, and team uniforms. Daneesh Naniram, a student at Riverview with a learning disability, said, “I am very happy I get to meet new friends, feel welcome and play basketball games – in real games, something I’ve never done before. It makes me happier than I have ever been.”

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