As a big sister who helped care for a sibling with disabilities, Norah Kainz developed a passion for inclusion early on. Growing up in rural northern Minnesota presented challenges for her youngest brother.
“One thing the community was lacking was a club or resources for people who had any sort of disability,” she explains. “There was a YMCA for a while that would do some activities, but there was no Unified Club or Special Olympics in the area.”
Kainz and her family got creative to bridge this gap, organizing adapted activities for families they knew. A self-described “go-getter,” she’s now harnessing this gumption to foster connections through the new Unified student club at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD).
What is a Unified Club?
Unified Clubs are community and school-based partnerships affiliated with the Special Olympics. They engage people with and without intellectual disabilities, building friendships and fostering belonging through sports and other activities.
When Assistant Professor Lisa Paulson was looking for leaders to help build a club at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), Kainz was a natural choice. The junior majoring in health and physical education and minoring in developmental adapted physical education didn’t have to think twice. “I was like, ‘That sounds awesome! It’s right up my interest list, I will definitely help with that,’” Kainz says.
Growing the community
In its first year, UMD Unified is aiming to get more people involved. Participation is open to those with and without intellectual and physical disabilities. “We welcome everybody. This is a UMD club, but it's also outreach to the community,” Paulson says, noting that many community participants range from recent high school graduates to those in their mid-20s.
Paulson has founded unified groups in the past, including at the University of Wisconsin-Superior (UWS). Word spread quickly in Superior, and that existing network has helped UMD Unified to grow.
“A lot of people are now wanting to be a part of both clubs,” says Paulson. “I decided, let's just do things together — the more the merrier. But once we get on the basketball court, they’ll have to choose what team to play on,” she laughs.
The club hit the ground running. In the fall, they put on a festive Halloween event with games and a costume contest, as well as a cocoa and crafts night. This spring, they braved a polar plunge and started playing basketball, partnering with UWS to practice and scrimmage.
The two clubs teamed up to play a 10-minute game against Bemidji State University’s Unified team during a UMD women's basketball game intermission. “Participating in a game with a large audience like that is a big deal for a lot of these athletes,” says Paulson. “It’s also a nice way to help highlight what's going on at UMD to a wider audience.”
The impact of inclusion
Kainz is enthusiastic about the new club’s impact. “At the few events that we've been able to host so far, it's been amazing to see how athletes and partners have lit up and are able to connect over something that they enjoy,” she says.
For students like Kainz, the club is a valuable development opportunity. As president, she is honing practical skills for her eventual career. “I knew I had some leadership qualities already, but I feel like they're truly developing. I also feel like my confidence in being a teacher has grown,” she says.
Paulson adds that the club spurs growth for all participants as they take a chance on something new. “The thing about 'unified' is that there's so much benefit for everybody—both for individuals with and without disabilities—but it's hard to properly articulate. You have to just go and feel it and see how beautiful it is, and I swear you're hooked!”
