Orange, CA — On May 1, 2026, Orange Unified School District (OUSD) and Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) transformed Fred Kelly Stadium into a hub of inspiration and athletic achievement for its annual Olympiad Games. This year’s event brought together approximately 500 student-athletes and over 1,500 total participants, including staff, general education peers, and community leaders, to celebrate our scholars with disabilities.
The 2026 Olympiad Games offered new opportunities for students to showcase their unique talents and abilities through the addition of purposefully crafted, inclusive athletic events specifically developed to highlight the diverse skills and personal growth of every student-athlete. This expanded programming featured a collaborative design, introducing an obstacle course, a variety of throwing competitions, bowling, and parachute games to ensure every participant could demonstrate their personal abilities alongside their general education peers.
This year’s Olympiad Games culminated in our inaugural medal ceremony, where each participant was recognized for their individual achievements, a milestone made possible by the seamless collaboration between the SELPA team, various district departments, hundreds of spirited student volunteers from across OUSD’s student leadership and performing arts programs, as well as our community partners.
The triumph of the 2026 Olympiad Games comes on the heels of a historic era of transformation for the district’s SELPA, moving from intensive state monitoring to becoming a model of excellence throughout the state by shifting the focus to creating more opportunities for students with disabilities to be included with their general education peers. Orange Unified’s Special Education Program was recently ranked the #1 SELPA in Orange County based on the California Department of Education’s 2026 Annual Determination Report, meeting 26 of 27 state and federal indicators. This recognition is more than a ranking, it is proof that when a district commits to belonging, inclusion, and high expectations for every student, transformational outcomes follow.
By fostering an environment that prioritizes both inclusion and academic rigor, the OUSD SELPA has achieved profound outcomes, including a county-leading 91.9% graduation rate and last year’s dramatic 18.9% growth in English Language Arts performance for students with disabilities, as reported on the 2025 California School Dashboard.
The Olympiad Games stand as a vibrant testament to OUSD’s commitment to ensuring every student has the opportunity to belong, compete, and succeed both in the classroom and on the field.