For almost 30 years, Special Olympics Connecticut’s Unified Sports program has sought to bridge the opportunity gap for school-age athletes living with disabilities. At Guilford High School (GHS) the program has been a success, but some in the school community want even more people to recognize the abilities and contributions of athletes participating in the Unified Sports program.

Enter Gabriela Garcia-Perez and Madison Gambardella.

Garcia-Perez and Gambardella are co-captains of the girls’ varsity soccer. Before the team’s game on Friday, Oct. 18, each member of the starting 11 will be joined by both a GHS special-needs Unified athlete along with a member of the Polson Middle School Unified Sports program as they take the field, which Garcia-Perez said is the team’s way of paying tribute to their peers who might not always get the same level of attention or appreciation.

“Sports [are] a different type of language,” said Garcia-Perez. “In my own life, I’ve seen sports really bring out a different side of people, and have them be able to connect with a [another] type of people that you might not interact with in other environments.”

That sort of visibility and the gesture of inclusiveness is something that Garcia-Perez said she hopes will help shine a light on the accomplishments of athletes living with disabilities, and educate more people about athletic opportunities for special-needs students.

The girls’ varsity team will also be wearing custom-made shirts that combine the Unified Sports and GHS logos, and will sell those shirts at games throughout the season with proceeds going to Unified Sports.

Unified Sports’ mission is to include athletes with disabilities and their non-disabled peers together in sports, helping them compete and learn in an integrated environment based on their talents and experience, traveling and competing with Unified programs in other schools, according to GHS Unified Sports coach Jaye Carlson. Between Polson and GHS, 200 students participate in the program, Carlson said.

Students who are already participating in a school sport in a particular season are not allowed to join Unified, which has precluded Garcia-Perez from participating as she plays school sports throughout the year. But several other members of the team have, including Gambardella, and all have been impressed and inspired by what the program has to offer.

“It’s extremely popular around school,” Garcia-Perez said.

Carlson said that it has been important to have everyone joining in supporting each other’s sports programs, and that she always encourages the Unified athletes to support their peers at their games. The idea with Unified Sports is spread the inclusive message of the to all aspects of the athletes’ lives, something that Carlson preaches every chance she gets.

“I end every practice the same way,” she said. “I say to them, ‘I want you to take these friendships that you’re developing...and use them in the hallways, in the classrooms, and in your community.’ Because Unified Sports is all about friendships.”

The Friday, Oct. 18 game between Guilford and Foran will take place at 3:45 p.m. at the Guilford High School soccer field at 605 New England Road. For more information on Unified Sports, visit www.soct.org.