After practicing during advisory on Wednesday and Thursdays for just 28 minutes, the Unified Basketball team began their season in January. Following that, they continued on to participate in track and field during the spring.
The basketball team is led by special education teacher Nathaniel Soellner and assisted by varsity volleyball coach and special education teacher Phuong Tat. “[It’s] just eye opening, I think it makes you appreciate more things that you can do and how you can help them out and give them the same chance that you have. It’s nice to see that,” Soellner said.
Dean of Special Education Regina Vall has worked for years now trying to assemble coaches and a team. This school year, she made the final push gathering students, mentors and teachers to start the program. Due to transportation, this year made sense as Dominion brought back advisory, offering a perfect time for the students to come together and practice without missing a school bus or finding a way to come early.
Kenzie Falcone started helping as a mentor this year and has since spent lots of time with the special abilities students. “I admire their love for each other along with how pure they are. Even when someone is having a hard time, someone will always try to help them out and or try to make them feel better. It just melts my heart and makes me smile, genuinely some of the sweetest kids I’ve ever met,” Falcone said.
Strictly for basketball, the team consists of eight athletes on the court, three of which have to be special abilities students then the other five would be filled by student mentors or other special abilities students. During this spring season, the team is doing track and field.
Special Education student Jasmine Pimentel is in the Life Program and this year has gotten to participate in both basketball and track and field. “Favorite thing is [that] I get to play together and be part of a team,” Pimentel said.
At Dominion, the special education students are split into two groups being the Life Program and the intensive program. The biggest difference this year is the convergence of the two programs with the rest of the school to help all students get the same experiences.
“I see the coaches stepping in and helping 24/7. They are always there to support the kids whenever they need or even [us] volunteers when we have questions. They know just the right answer and are just over all amazing people, the way the kids shine in their presence is really special,” Falcone said.
For students in both programs, Dominion recently started offering “United” elective classes with woodshop, art, and music allowing students to become peer mentors and engage in fun classes together. During Special Abilities Awareness Week, Broadcast students highlighted the United classes spotlighting United Art and United Sound.
Photo Courtesy of Audrey Moreno.
Brendan Pope has a younger brother in the Life Program and has devoted lots of time helping out and engaging with the program. “My favorite part about being involved in the program is by far seeing the students happy as well as them laughing. That is what it’s all about,” Pope said, “I admire that the students always remain positive and try to have fun, regardless of their situation.”
Next year, the program hopes to begin a sport in the fall season and recruit new student mentors. For students interested in becoming a peer mentor and helping out with the special abilities students, join BFF Club or reach out to Sheila Traenkle.
