Healthy Athletes
The Healthy Athletes initiative is dedicated to providing health services and education to Special Olympics athletes, and changing the way health systems interact with people with intellectual disabilities. Through free health screenings, training for healthcare professionals, and evaluation of the health status of people with intellectual disabilities, Healthy Athletes has become a powerful public health organization worldwide.
In the workplace, without health, one cannot be productive. In school, without health, one cannot achieve. In sport, without health, one cannot perform. Correcting an athlete’s vision, for example, directly impacts his or her ability to compete in sports and participate in meaningful social interactions, just as providing solutions to chronic dental problems can enhance an athlete’s performance. For these reasons, Healthy Athletes® has continually expanded its offerings and endeavors to:
In the workplace, without health, one cannot be productive. In school, without health, one cannot achieve. In sport, without health, one cannot perform. Correcting an athlete’s vision, for example, directly impacts his or her ability to compete in sports and participate in meaningful social interactions, just as providing solutions to chronic dental problems can enhance an athlete’s performance. For these reasons, Healthy Athletes® has continually expanded its offerings and endeavors to:
- Improve access and health care for Special Olympics athletes through free health-screening clinics;
- Provide appropriate referrals to local health care providers;
- Train health care professionals and health professions students about the needs and care of people with intellectual disabilities;
- Collect, analyze and disseminate data on the health status and needs of people with intellectual disabilities;
- Advocate for improved health care policies and programs for people with intellectual disabilities;
- Conduct research and evaluation activities that help define challenges, document program impact and seek better solutions.
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Fun FitnessComprehensive, 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. Professional volunteers (OTs, PTs, students) interested in assisting at FUNfitness events please contact:
Arkansas Clinical Director Robin Dyer, M.S., P.T. |
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Health PromotionHealth Promotion Programs validate the success of the diverse approaches offered, along with positive psychosocial and health benefits:
Improved perceived health; Reduction in body weight;
Arkansas Clinical Director Warren Newman |
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Healthy HearingAs 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.
Professional volunteers (audiologists, students) interested in assisting at Healthy Hearing events please contact: Arkansas Clinical Directors Jan Stroud, Au.D, CCC-A Donna Smiley, Au.D, CCC |
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Opening EyesWith 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. Arkansas Clinical Directors Jason D. Gates, O.D. Airiell Schwab, O.D. |
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Special SmilesSpecial 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:
Arkansas Clinical Director Dr. Steven Chason |
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Fit FeetFit 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.
Arkansas Clinical Director Jamie Pierce, DPM |
