Inclusion in Action: How Special Olympics New York Builds Health, Confidence, and Community in Cattaraugus County

Participants in the 2025 Law Enforcement Torch Run help open the Unified Game at St. Bonaventure University.

When students from Allegany-Limestone, Olean, and Salamanca school districts step onto the court at St. Bonaventure University for a Unified Basketball game, something powerful happens. Teammates with and without intellectual disabilities play side by side, not as separate groups, but as one team, with one goal.

With local United Way support, Special Olympics New York’s (SONY) Cattaraugus County Program is providing year-round opportunities for students and community members with intellectual disabilities to play, connect, and thrive.

Unified Sports: Building Confidence and Connection

Last year, 146 students from Allegany-Limestone, Franklinville, Olean, and Salamanca participated in Unified Basketball at St. Bonaventure, an increase of nearly 60 from the previous year. 

Another 50 students joined a Unified Soccer clinic on campus, and 81 students from across the region participated in Unified Basketball or Bocce through the New York State Public High School Athletic Association partnership. Unified Bowling started in January.

“When we consider our participants’ mental well-being, sports are crucial to their social and emotional development,” said Dan Kuberka, Senior Director of Development - Grants & Foundations for SONY. “These programs don’t just teach sports skills, they build confidence, friendships, and inclusion, and that carries over into the classroom, at home, and later in the workplace.”

In fact, research shows that adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) who have participated in Special Olympics are far more likely to be employed than those who haven’t, 44% compared to 28%.

A Healthier, More Inclusive Community

Sports are just one part of the picture. SONY athletes also gain access to vital health screenings – like checking vision, hearing, and dental health – completely free of charge. 

Screenings can include follow-up care such as prescription glasses and referrals. These services help address the healthcare gap that often leaves people with ID without access to quality care.

“Special Olympics’ inclusive athletic programs are creating a culture where people with ID can improve their overall level of health by participating in year-round, structured physical activities,” Kuberka said. “We’re working to close the health care gap that exists between the ID population and the general population and lessen the strain on local health care systems.”

Growing Opportunities, Thanks to Volunteers

Cattaraugus County’s Special Olympics programs run on volunteer power. Recently, the community gained new head and assistant coaches for the AlleCatts training club, who are already expanding local offerings. Bocce and basketball have long been favorites, and this year, athletes are eager to try something new: cornhole.

“It’s more accessible for athletes with ambulatory challenges, and it gives them another way to compete and stay active,” Kuberka shared. “We’re excited to keep adding sports that fit our athletes’ interests.”

More Than Sports – It’s Belonging

Kuberka emphasizes that the impact goes far beyond uniforms and equipment. “When you support Special Olympics through United Way, you’re giving someone with an intellectual disability access to community – to be part of something bigger than themselves,” he said.

From local Unified leagues to state competitions in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Ithaca, athletes are proving every day that inclusion strengthens everyone.

“The drive for inclusion in Cattaraugus County is going strong,” Kuberka said. “And that’s thanks in large part to the caring power of our community.”

Join the Movement

Each spring, SONY’s Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) brings together law enforcement officers, students, and community members to celebrate unity and inclusion. The Olean leg of the run, named in honor of Trooper Ross M. Riley, will take place Friday, April 24, with participants carrying the “Flame of Hope” from Lincoln Park down West State Street to St. Bonaventure University, where it will kick off the Unified Game.

“The strength of the Torch Run is that it reminds everyone these athletes are part of our community,” said Dan Kuberka. “They’re not just participants – they’re neighbors, students, coworkers, and friends. Even in our fundraising, we’re being inclusive.”