Sue Swenson, deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, will deliver remarks at the launch of the ESPN-Special Olympics Global Partnership on Friday, Sept. 6 at ESPN Worldwide headquarters in Bristol, Conn. Swenson will talk about Project UNIFY, a school-based education strategy for students with and without intellectual disabilities funded through the Department, of which Unified Sports is a key piece. She will emphasize how sports can provide lessons in leadership, discipline and selflessness, and urge schools to ensure that students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to benefit from life lessons learned on the playing field or on the court.
The event is part of ESPN’s 34th anniversary celebration of programming. Other participants in the launch of the Special Olympics Global Partnership include Special Olympics celebrities, ambassadors and athletes; 2012-2013 NBA rookie of the year Damian Lillard; and ESPN executives, on-air talent and employees.