How Guilderland Cultivated One of the Most Inclusive Communities in the State

On Friday, June 26^th, 2026, a senior class of Unified athletes and partners will graduate from Guilderland High School with a demonstrated commitment to inclusion. For many of them, that commitment didn’t just begin in high school—it continued.

For students with and without disabilities in the Capital Region, Guilderland is changing the game, from elementary to middle to high school, and beyond.

Early Education

When visitors enter Westmere Elementary, they’re greeted with a little red sign that reads “Empowering All Students to Succeed in the 21^st Century.” The faculty, staff, and students take those words seriously.

Both in general and special education programs, students at Westmere are given the tools to succeed together. Whether that’s Unified Physical Education, Young Athletes, Junior Athletes-type activity, or even music classes, these students are learning from each other at an early age. According to Jess Sweeney, Physical Education Teacher at Westmere, Unified has made all the difference.

“I think it’s created unity in our school,” she said. “We are Westmere. Everyone is together.”

“I think these are life skills,” added Westmere Principal Dr. Beth Bini. “Everyone has strengths. By working together, all students develop their skills holistically.”

“When these kids go to middle school, they’ll see the kids they’ve had elementary school with,” Jess pointed out. “So it’s kind of like a familiar face when they’re moving on.”

And what should these elementary students expect at the middle school level? Farnsworth Middle School has the answer.

Continuing Excellence

Bright and early one Thursday morning this past April, students from Maple Avenue, Hoosick Falls, Troy, and Lynch Middle Schools gathered at Farnsworth for a day of learning, interacting, and fun. It was an Inclusive Youth Leadership Summit, and it was an inspiring meeting for all who attended.

“We met diverse people from different backgrounds,” said Madhav, a Farnsworth student. “It was nice being able to connect with them.”

“It helps you feel included,” echoed Rosaline, a student from Lynch Middle School. “I’m on crutches, but I still got to play.”

Each school brought students with and without intellectual disabilities from their Unified Physical Education classes and Unified Clubs. Throughout the day, students enjoyed various activities, including getting-to-know-you bingo, a collaborative poster design, and various Unified-style sport activities.

“We are going to try our very best to make this group as unified and as cohesive as possible,” said Leigh Howard Director of Program for Unified Sports at Special Olympics NY. “Because that’s what Unified sports, Unified Champion Schools, and Special Olympics New York is all about.”

And the result?

“The day has been fantastic so far,” said Farnsworth Principal Michael Laster. “I really enjoy seeing our Gen Ed. peers and our Special Ed. peers interacting in ways that they don’t normally do.”

But the progress doesn’t stop there. Because when these students graduate to high school, their work continues.

A Banner Program

Once students reach Guilderland High School, they are ready to stand at the forefront of the Unified movement. For their hard work, the school was recognized by Special Olympics in 2019 with a National Banner honor.

This distinction marks the highest achievement for Unified programs at schools throughout the nation, signifying excellent in 10 different criteria. Only a handful of schools around the country earn Banner status each year. Guilderland renewed theirs in 2023, and look poised to do so again for decades to come.

“Now we have more students with intellectual disabilities who are attending football games, who are going to soccer games,” said Colette Gallagher, Unified Sports and Athletics Coach. “Once you open the door to acceptance and opportunities, it continues to expand.”

“It just makes me feel included,” said Alyssa O’Connor, Unified athlete and Guilderland graduate. “It makes me feel like I’m part of a whole team.”

The Future of Inclusion

As the Class of ‘26 embarks on the next chapter of their lives, they’ll take the lessons learned from their earliest years to their future ones. They’ll remember their teammates, their peers, and how it feels to treat—and be treated with—respect. And, more than anything, we know that they’ll take the words of the Special Olympics Athlete Oath to heart: Being brave in every attempt.

Congratulations, graduates! Thanks for helping to brighten your community.