Thomas "Teddy" Salmen
When I was new to Edina Schools in 2018 my teachers would let me use my choice time to volunteer in the Hornet Hive (Special-Ed Suite) as I was coming off of a very rough spot in my life and was having trouble attending school consistently. It gave me motivation to go to school and provided a place where I could build genuine relationships and take a break from my day. When I went into middle school I learned about a program known as Edina Unified, which had a whole group of the student body doing the same thing I had been doing at Cornelia. I joined initially as a club member, and occasionally attended during my flex times (choice periods), but things really changed when during the second month of school a kid with down syndrome started sitting at my lunch table. He was silent while he ate his lunch and would flip us the bird If we looked at him wrong. I started getting to know him in Unified Flexes. His name was Ian. I had no idea how Ian and the Unified program would change me (heck, change my life) over the next 2 years.In 7th grade I decided to not only continue attending the Unified Flexes and events but to use one of my elective periods to be a TA (or more realistically a friend) In Unified Math. Having this dedicated time multiple times a week with both my neurotypical and A-neurotypical friends was a lot of fun. By second semester me and a friend had started to eat lunch in the Unified Suite with our friend Ian and our other A-neurotypical friends. This daily time I would spend with Ian started to change this relationship from just in school to outside of school as well. Our lunch group grew and that was when our grade started to feel different to me. People wanted to be part of Unified and wanted relationships with ALL their classmates, including a-neurotypical peers.In 8th grade, I decided to have all my electives be Unified classes, including Engineering (a pilot class in the district), PE and another TA spot. We all continue to eat lunch together. My friends (both neurotypical and a-neurotypical) get together often outside of school. We talk on the phone, play video games online and go out to lunch and hangout on weekends and school breaks. This year, I've had several opportunities to speak about what Unified means to me, including on KARE 11 (https://www.kare11.com/video/news/local/kare11-extras/a-unified-approach-to-special-education-is-changing-lives-at-a-mn-middle-school/89-b48e174a-6f76-4cf0-951e-452bfd6de98b), at the Edina Rotary Club luncheon and at the MN Association of Secondary School Principals conference. Unified has changed my middle school experience and viewpoint on people in general. It has opened my eyes to the struggles that everyone faces, and helped me to be more intuitive and understanding. It has helped me see that we all have more in common than you'd expect. I've set a personal fundraising goal, and I need your help to reach it. I'm not asking you to take the Plunge, but I AM asking if you'll make a donation to Special Olympics Minnesota on behalf of me taking the Plunge. Any amount would be appreciated it all goes to a wonderful cause, and every little bit gets me that much closer to my goal. The funds are used to help offset the cost of Unified activities and keep this great program alive at South View. Thank you for considering a donation to support me.
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Suggested Donation
$30 - Puts a child through an 8-week Special Olympics Minnesota Young Athletes season
$60 - Provides an eye examination and a pair of glasses for two Special Olympics Minnesota athletes
$100 - Sends a Unified Pair to ALPs University, Special Olympics Minnesota's athlete leadership program
$250 - Implements a Respect Campaign into a school/business/organization
$500 - Provides funding to start a brand new Special Olympics Minnesota Delegation