Number of Participants: 20
Hours Donated: 150
Value of Time Served: $25,350
Event Amount Raised: $5,000
Event Type: Disabled
Sport: Basketball
School: Elwood/John Glenn High School
Date: May 1, 2024
Location:
John Glenn High School
Elwood Road, Elwood
NY
About:
My name is Joey Mammolito, I am a junior at Elwood John H. Glenn High School. I am the starting point guard for the Varsity Basketball team. I have had the privilege to volunteer for the Unified Basketball program that was brought into the Elwood School district by our administration during the 2021-2022, 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school year. Unified Sports promote social inclusion by bringing people together with and without disabilities. Coach Charly Rogener leads the Unified team in addition to being our varsity basketball coach, a Tech teacher and a certified Special Education teacher. Mr. Kilkenny, our school psychologist, is the assistant coach. When the opportunity presented itself, I didn’t think twice about joining Coach Rogener and Mr. Kilkenny to help teach and mentor students with disabilities.
Through this program, I was able to make connections with students that I typically didn’t get to interact with throughout my day. I was able to build new relationships and even worked with one of the students over the summer in their driveway. We just entered our third year of this program and I cannot be more excited to be on the court with everyone again.
I was thrilled to see our school implement the Unified Bowling program last year, in addition to the Unified middle school intramural program, which I had the opportunity to volunteer for. Outside of the Unified program, I also volunteer and help teach basketball to K-2 children at the Harley Avenue Elementary School. I am fortunate to live in a school district that embraces an inclusive environment which opens up opportunities for all.
My Unified program experience has sparked my interest to advocate for more opportunities for all students, of all abilities to come together at a much younger age. If we set the foundation earlier, we can have even stronger ties to one another as we move through our school years. I wish I had these opportunities presented to me in my elementary and middle school years. Everyone could benefit from these experiences.
I created the proposal that I shared in my photos to advocate for more inclusive opportunities. As a result of my proposal, the administration and social workers throughout the entire district agreed to expand the Unified program district wide. The planning phase took about six months and we implemented the program in the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year. We participated in Athletics for All in the fall at the high school level. Expanded our intramural program at the middle school level and we created a program called Blooming Buddies, which took place in the elementary schools. Blooming Buddies is a club where students participate in many different activities throughout the year. Individuals both with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities do activities like arts and crafts, baking, sports and playground play. Over the past year, we have seen so many more typical kids volunteering to help out in these programs. Bonds are now being made at a much younger age, which will create long lasting relationships, and remove stigmas prior to high school. Many Elwood students have jumped on board to help make this a successful program for years to come.
In order to make this all happen, I was able to raise $5000 to help fund the program thanks to SEPTA, the Elwood Booster Club and the Elwood Athletic Club. This all could not have happened without the help of our administration, students, staff and the community. I am thankful to be a part of such a supportive community.
My goal is to have Section XI and NYSPHSAA help all districts expand Unified Sports into the fall and early winter, as well as bringing those sports down to the middle school level. I hope that my project will bring more awareness to other school communities in New York, the United States, and around the world. If Elwood leads by example, I am certain that others will follow.
