• The Unified Champion Schools® (UCS) Inclusion Academy equips educators, coaches and school leaders with practical tools to create more inclusive classrooms, schools and sports settings.
• From 2026-2030, the Academy will train 6,000 educators globally by preparing 250 regional trainers to deliver high-quality inclusion training across all Special Olympics regions.
• The initiative builds on the Global Center’s UCS work to date, which has engaged over 1 million young people, trained more than 21,000 teachers and coaches, and supported implementation in over 3,000 schools.
• The launch strengthens Special Olympics as a global driver in research, policy and practical programming in inclusion in education.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Special Olympics Global Center for Inclusion in Education has launched the Unified Champion Schools® (UCS) Inclusion Academy, a global learning initiative to equip educators, coaches and school leaders with practical tools to create more inclusive classrooms, schools and sports settings. Its scalable train-the-trainer model will equip 250 regional trainers over the next four years, enabling them to train 6,000 educators across all Special Olympics regions.

The need for this training is significant. UNESCO’s 2020 Global Education Monitoring Report found that 25% of teachers across 48 education systems reported a high need for professional development in teaching students with special needs.

The Inclusion Academy responds to that need through competency-based online micro-credentials, which are short, focused courses that allow educators to build and demonstrate specific skills alongside in-person learning. By investing in trainers who can pass on their expertise locally, the Academy is designed to create a multiplier effect, expanding the reach of high-quality inclusion training and building lasting capacity within education systems around the world. Upon completing the course participants earn a Special Olympics digital credential, and selected participants will be invited to attend an immersive, in-person training in Abu Dhabi, preparing them to deliver high-quality inclusion training within their regions.

Grounded in the Unified Champion Schools model, which brings students with and without intellectual disabilities (ID) together through inclusive sports, shared leadership opportunities and whole-school engagement, the Inclusion Academy demonstrates how sport can help build school communities where all students learn, lead and belong together.

The Inclusion Academy was developed with global experts in curriculum design, learning science, and inclusion in education. The result is practical, evidence-based learning with athletes and youth leaders bringing the curriculum to life through professionally produced videos that share their lived experiences, personal stories and lived insights. By combining these perspectives with research and expert guidance, the Inclusion Academy helps participants understand not only the principles of inclusion, but what they look like in practice.

The launch marks an important milestone in advancing inclusion in education globally, while reinforcing Special Olympics as a growing leader for research, policy and programming in inclusion in education.

This new initiative builds on the Global Center’s growing international impact. To date, its UCS work has engaged over 1 million young people, trained over 21,000 teachers and coaches, supported implementation in over 3,000 schools, and reached nearly 225,000 athletes and Unified partners without ID. The Global Center has also produced more than 25 research publications, including the Inclusive Mindsets & Behaviors framework developed with Harvard University.

Founded in 2020 following a US$25 million gift from His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, the Global Center was established to build on the legacy of the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 and advance inclusive education worldwide. In September 2025, the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity strengthened that commitment through an additional US$11 million pledge to accelerate the Global Center’s mission and expand its global impact.

Dr. Timothy Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics said, “The UCS Inclusion Academy is possible because of partners who share our belief that inclusion starts with people—and that educators have the power to shape a more welcoming world. Their investment is equipping educators around the globe to use the unifying power of sport to build classrooms, schools, and communities where every young person belongs.”

Amy Noble, Fox Family Foundation’s Senior Master Instructor said, “As a special education teacher with 13 years of experience, I thought I knew everything there was to know about inclusion. Then, I started working at the Fox Family Foundation, and my entire world view shifted. The Special Olympics micro-credential for teachers will expand your knowledge of inclusion and give you powerful information to transform your classroom, revolutionize your approach to delivering curriculum, and maximize your impact on students.”

Registration for the Inclusion Academy’s online micro-credential is now open at https://specialolympics.org/InclusionAcademy

About Special Olympics
Founded in 1968, Special Olympics is a global sports movement to end discrimination against people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We foster acceptance of all people through the power of sport and programming in education, health and leadership. With more than 5.1 million athletes and Unified Sports® partners and over one million coaches and volunteers in more than 200 countries and jurisdictions, Special Olympics offers over 30 Olympic-type sports and nearly 60,000 games and competitions every year. Engage with us on: X, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn. Learn more at SpecialOlympics.org.

About Special Olympics Global Center for Inclusion in Education
The Special Olympics Global Center for Inclusion in Education, based in Abu Dhabi, advances inclusion in education through research, policy, partnerships and practical programming. Its mission is to ensure people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are fully included in learning, sport and community life.

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SOURCE Special Olympics International