WHAT IS INCLUSIVE HEALTH
Health has a substantial impact on the quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and affects Special Olympics athletes’ ability to train and compete in sports. Despite severe need and higher health risks, people with IDD lack access to quality health services and prevention opportunities, resulting in avoidable health conditions at rates higher than those of their peers without IDD. Inclusive health means that people with IDD have equitable access to affordable, quality health services. It means that people with IDD are empowered to take an active role in deciding their health and life choices to be as healthy as possible.
On a Team of Ten Athletes:
on a team of 10 athletes
60%
40%
60%
20%
20%
HEALTH PROGRAMS & SERVICES
Ongoing programs that promote health, fitness, child development, and social-emotional health. It is a lifespan approach, from Young Athletes to older adults.
Health screenings and follow-up care for Special Olympics athletes and healthcare providers.
Curricula and training for the healthcare workforce (students and professionals), focused on inclusion and improving the quality of care delivered to people with IDD.
Innovative, targeted partnerships and policy changes at the local, national, regional, and global levels to elevate the voices and health needs of people with IDD, including Health Messenger Training, Collaborations with Individuals or Organizations to Influence Policy
HEALTHY ATHLETES
Healthy Athletes is a Special Olympics program that provides free medical screening and education for people with intellectual disabilities.
Through healthy athletes programs, Special Olympics:
- Ensures quality Health Screenings/Referrals for athletes.
- Offers Health Professionals the opportunity to learn how to treat people with intellectual disabilities and be more prone to welcome them into their practices.
DISCIPLINES
Clinical Director: Dr. Stanitia Davis
Fit Feet
helps Special Olympics athletes step lively on the playing field, and in everyday life. Many athletes suffer from foot and ankle pain, or deformities that impair their performance. In fact, up to 50 percent of Special Olympics athletes experience one or more preventable or treatable foot conditions that can affect their sports participation. Often, these individuals are not fitted with the best shoes and socks for their particular sport. To alleviate these problems, volunteer podiatrists work with athletes to evaluate problems of the feet, ankles and lower extremity biomechanics.
Clinical Director: Dr. Melanie Fox
Comprehensive, cooperative and educational, FUNfitness is the physical therapy component of Healthy Athletes® that Special Olympics athletes describe as “just plain fun”. Designed to assess and improve an athlete’s flexibility, functional strength, aerobic capacity and balance, volunteer physical therapists, assistants, and students assess the flexibility and functional strength of Special Olympics Athletes’ muscles, as well as overall balance at FUNfitness screenings. The FUNfitness curriculum was developed for Special Olympics Healthy Athletes by the American Physical Therapy Association.
Clinical Director: Caleb Brand
Health Promotion Programs validate the success of the diverse approaches offered, along with positive psychosocial and health benefits:
Improved perceived health;
Reduction in body weight;
- Improved self-confidence;
- Enhanced attitudes toward physical activity;
- Increased fiber intake; and
- Decreased perceived barriers.
*Health Promotions is offered during Spring, Summer, and Fall Games.
Clinical Directors: Dr. Mary Frances Johnson and Dr. Carrie Tilley
As the audiological component of Healthy Athletes®, Healthy Hearing was created to assess the hearing of athletes using multiple screening methods such as pure tone testing and tympanometry. In some cases, like at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games, healthy Hearing volunteers are able to provide free hearing aids that immediately restore hearing for athletes, thanks to corporate donations.
*Healthy Hearing is offered during Spring and Summer Games.
Clinical Director: Dr. Stacie Moore
With eyes wide open to the needs of people with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics – Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes®, was created to provide free vision screening for Special Olympics athletes.
Opening Eyes also works to educate athletes, parents, and coaches about the importance of regular eye care, and enlightens and alters the attitudes of eye care professionals about the vision care needs of people with intellectual disabilities. Professionals can also earn continuing education credits.
*Opening Eyes is offered during Summer Games
Clinical Directors: Dr. Joanna Seo and Dr. Steven Porter
Special Smiles has demonstrated remarkable success in its mission to increase access to dental care for Special Olympics athletes, and to all people with intellectual disabilities. Today, Special Smiles is considered a leading advocate on standards for care an equality-of-care issues.
The scope of Special Smiles has been expanded to include:
- Initiatives to increase public, governmental and professional awareness of oral health problems faces by people with disabilities.
- Dental education programs for dental professionals, dental schools, community residences, institutional facilities and Special Olympics athletes.
- Sports injury prevention programs.
- Nutritional guidelines and programs for our athletes.
- Research on the oral health needs of people with disabilities, for use in health care reform; and fabrication of adaptive devices and oral facial sports programs for people with quadriplegia.
*Special Smiles is offered during Spring, and Summer Games.
Strong Minds is an interactive learning activity focused on developing adaptive coping skills. Competition provides a natural opportunity to develop active strategies for maintaining emotional wellness under stress, such as: thinking positive thoughts, releasing stress and connecting with others.
Clinical Director: TBA
The goals of MedFest include: offer a free sports physical and other health examination services to people with intellectual disabilities, recruit new athletes to Special Olympics, foster new partnerships between Special Olympics and the community, and provide physicians, nurses and other health care providers with training and specialized experience in caring for people with intellectual disabilities.
Clinical Director: TBA
MEET OUR ATHLETE LEADERS
HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED? BECOME A…
CLINICAL DIRECTOR
When you serve as clinical director at Special Olympics, you’re not just overseeing medical operations—you’re ensuring every athlete competes safely, building inclusive healthcare standards, and creating an environment where courage and ability shine without limits or barriers.
HOST/SPONSOR AN EVENT
When you host or sponsor Healthy Athletes event, you’re not just supporting athletes—you’re creating a world where every person, regardless of ability, experiences the joy of competition, discovers their strength, and knows they belong.
ATHLETE LEADER
When you become an Athlete Leader at Healthy Athletes Event, you’re not just representing your fellow athletes—you’re amplifying voices, shaping policies, building confidence, and proving that leadership has no limits when passion, experience, and determination come together
MEDICAL VOLUNEERS
When you volunteer as medical staff at Healthy Athletes event, you’re not just ensuring athletes’ safety—you’re empowering individuals to push their limits, achieve their dreams, and experience the transformative power of sports in a supportive, inclusive environment.
NEWS
“Public Health Approaches to Promote Health Equity for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Systematic Review”