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Objectives: Self-description research on athletes with intellectual disabilities (ID) is under investigated. The specific aims in this paper are (a) to identify the differences in physical self-concept and body image by Unified Sports experiences, and (b) to investigate predictors of physical self-concept. Methods: Participants included 89 Special Olympics athletes who had Unified Sports experiences (USE, n = 43) and those without USE (n = 46). Demographic, anthropometric, self-description data were collected during the questionnaire interview and physical examination. Analyses included descriptive and regression modeling to determine differences in the psychological attributes by USE and best subsets of predictors of each physical self-concept construct. Results: The findings suggest that the participation of USE facilitated greater sport competence and there is no single predictor across the six physical self-concept constructs. Conclusion: The findings provide evidence that sports participation may have positive impacts on physical self-concept toward athletes with ID.

In 2010, the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) reevaluated the status of Public Law 93-112, Sec 504, which protects against discrimination solely based on someone's disability. Recommendations and findings were reported to school districts around the country in a document called the Dear Colleague Letter of 2013. The GAO identified several factors that limited opportunities for students with disabilities to participate in physical education and athletics, and produced several recommendations for school districts. One in particular stated that schools should consider offering separate or different athletic opportunities if reasonable accommodations were not providing effective participation of students with disabilities. However, constraints such as budget, logistics, coaches and facilities have affected these opportunities. This article features a creative sport delivery model--virtual communication--to address these constraints. This delivery option can be implemented across great geographical distances between several schools without the concern of travel, logistics or loss of time. Read how adapted physical educators developed and implemented a sport competition for Boccia across six different middle schools using virtual communication, thus providing a different athletic opportunity for students and at the same time addressing the recommendations identified in the Dear Colleague Letter.