Special Olympics Washington Announces an Unprecedented Expansion of its Early Childhood Education Initiative
Seattle, United States - August 9, 2025 / Special Olympics Washington /
SEATTLE, WA - Special Olympics Washington (SpecialOlympicsWashington.org) has announced increased access to its early childhood education program, Young Athletes. The move includes broad support for educators in schools throughout Washington State who want to continue growing opportunities for students of all abilities in 2025 and beyond.
The program itself utilizes an eight-week curriculum of age-appropriate play as a pathway for developing social communication, adaptive thinking, and other critical skills for children in kindergarten through third grade. Research shows that this type of support has a dramatic downstream impact on young learners’ ability to make the most of the educational process and leads to greater success in the workplace and beyond.
As an integral part of the Unified Champion Schools initiative, Young Athletes has now been implemented in over 100 countries globally and 40 schools throughout Washington State. For the parents of young students, it does more than provide specialized learning opportunities; it gives young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) the greatest chance to build full and enriching lives.
Senior leaders at Special Olympics Washington believe that these types of programs will play an even more critical role in the coming years. They stress the growing importance that public/private initiatives like Young Athletes will play in ensuring that young learners in Washington, especially those with IDD, are not left behind.
Morgan Larche, Unified Champion Schools Leader, said, “Programs like Young Athletes not only lead to stronger individuals but often have a tremendous long-term effect on families and communities as well. We’re immensely thankful to the Dan Thompson Memorial Developmental Disabilities Community Services Account for supporting this initiative.”
Additional information about Young Athletes and other Unified Champion Schools programs, including requirements and how to sign up, can be found on the program’s website at schools.specialolympicswashington.org/young-athletes. Educators interested in adopting the program may also contact program director Morgan Larche at mlarch@sowa.org.
About Special Olympics Washington
Special Olympics Washington provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for thousands of children and adults with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. In 2025, the organization will celebrate its 50th anniversary by honoring its remarkable legacy in Washington while setting the stage for a stronger, more inclusive future. Learn more at SpecialOlympicsWashington.org.
Contact Information:
Special Olympics Washington
2815 2nd Ave, Suite 370
Seattle, Washington 98121
United States
Morgan Larch
+1 (206) 362-4949
https://schools.specialolympicswashington.org
