Unified basketball is making big changes at schools – one practice and one competition at a time. We had a blast seeing this at a Unified basketball tournament in Livermore!
Granada High School hosted rival Livermore High School and nearby Dublin High School for a riveting Unified basketball tournament. About 50 athletes – with and without disabilities – played together as teammates while more than 200 students cheered from the stands!
A student receiving special education services at Dublin High recounted that scoring and hearing the people cheering were his favorite parts.
Many of the general education students participating play on their varsity basketball teams. Some student aides from the special education classes also played on the Unified team. In the spirit of sportsmanship, some Granada general education students filled in on the Dublin team and said it was wonderful to play together regardless of ability. For many of the general education students playing, seeing and hearing all the fans cheering for every school highlighted the day.
Granada HS seniors volunteered as referees and some of the GHS cheerleaders offered their support as well! Students from nearby Joe Mitchell School even walked over to watch.
Livermore High School Athletic Director James Petersdorf said that Unified basketball is making a very real and accepting difference at his school. The varsity basketball players are now saying hello to their Unified basketball teammates on campus, something that Petersdorf notes has never happened before.