Starting Unified Robotics as a FIRST^® Team

Being on a FIRST Robotics Competition team is one of the most common ways to start Unified Robotics. Since the program normally runs from September to November, Unified Robotics can be a core part of your team’s culture of inclusion while easily integrated into pre-season outreach programs.

Most teams start within their school by coordinating with their special education department or a local special education program. Students on a FIRST team are paired with a student with intellectual disabilities to form a team and compete within their school or community.

As you spread the word in your community, you can coordinate with school districts, your local Special Olympics branch, or your local FIRST branch to accelerate growth in your region.

Partnering with Local Teams and Programs

Unified Robotics is proud to be community-driven, partnering with local FIRST teams, Special Olympics branches, and FIRST branches to enable growth in a region.

If you work in special education and would like to start in your school, check to see if your school has a FIRST Robotics team to support you. You can also reach out to other FIRST teams in your district.

Certain Special Olympics branches may incorporate robotics as part of their Unified Champion Schools offering, while local FIRST branches can connect you to interested FIRST teams to support starting Unified Robotics in your area.

Keep in mind that no experience in robotics is necessary, so you can recruit students in the general education population to pair with students in your special education class regardless of partnership with local teams or programs.