Pickleball Bridges Gaps at Crayton Middle School: At Crayton Middle School, students are forming lasting friendships on the pickleball court through the Special Olympics Unified program. This pickleball program brings together special and general education students to enjoy physical fitness and foster inclusion.
Pickleball has become a favorite activity for the Unified group, helping students bond over shared experiences.
“I like to play it with them” (One athlete, Jazayah Grimes).
Friendships Without Barriers
Jazayah, who is deaf, communicates through American Sign Language. Despite the language difference, his friendship with eighth-grader Gray Cobia thrives.
“He always has a smile on his face,”. “He is never upset. He is creative and fun”(Gray Cobia).
The Unified program encourages students to bridge communication gaps. Some students even learned sign language to communicate better with Jazayah. This effort highlights the group’s commitment to inclusion and understanding.
Fostering Belonging
Crayton’s Unified Program Lead, Ross Stewart, explains that the students lead by example.
“It’s not just inclusion, it’s belonging,”. “Every activity is student-led…I’m not making them kind, they are choosing to be”(Ross Stewart).
This pickleball program creates a supportive environment where students feel valued. Through activities like pickleball, they build connections that go beyond the court.
The Power of Pickleball
The friendships formed in the program show how sports can bring people together. Whether through learning a new language, reading a book, or playing pickleball, the students prove that friendships can grow in unexpected ways.
By choosing kindness and inclusion, Crayton Middle School students are showing how simple actions can make a big difference. Their Unified program sets an example for fostering belonging in schools.
News in Brief: Pickleball Bridges Gaps at Crayton Middle School
Crayton Middle School’s Unified program uses pickleball to promote inclusion and friendships between special and general education students. Athletes like Jazayah Grimes inspire peers to bridge gaps, with some learning sign language to communicate. Through kindness and shared activities, the program fosters belonging and sets an example of inclusive school communities.
