April's SOAR Scoop: Competition Levels
Here is your chance to get the SCOOP on all the ins and outs of Special Olympics Arkansas! Once a month, we will share info on a topic about Special Olympics programming during Coaches Pulse Check, our monthly newsletter and on social media channels. This month be in the know about health!
What's the Scoop on Health?
Healthy Athletes
Healthy Athletes is not only a program for athletes but, through training and hands-on experience at screenings, it is a program for healthcare students and professionals to increase knowledge of best practices in caring for and communicating with people with intellectual disabilities.
Special Olympics Arkansas offers eight different disciplines of Healthy Athletes: Fun Fitness, Health Promotion, Healthy Hearing, Opening Eyes, Special Smiles, Fit Feet, MedFest, and Strong Minds. Each athlete that attends receives free health screenings, education, and referrals for follow-up care.
Healthy Young Athletes
Special Olympics has introduced another element of Young Athletes, Healthy Young Athletes, to provide healthcare services and support, early childhood intervention, and preventive education to children aged 2-7. Education topics include: nutrition, hand washing, sun safety, oral hygiene, hydration, bone health, and active lifestyle.
Fitness Challenge
The Fitness Challenge is a 6 week fitness/wellness program designed to encourage persons with intellectual disabilities and their supporters to focus on a healthier lifestyle. Anyone can participate as an individual, team or family. Participants will track success in health and wellness through monthly submitted journals, setting goals, tracking weight, and blood pressure.
Live Healthy Education Fairs
Different from the screenings at the Healthy Athletes clinics, live healthy education fairs are purely informative hands on training segment of healthy athletes.
Health Messengers
Special Olympics Health Messengers are athletes who are trained to serve as health and wellness leaders, educators, advocates and role models within their Special Olympics communities, as well as the community at large. They are leading their teams, families, friends and communities to pursue healthy lifestyles, and are advocating for healthcare providers and governments to adopt inclusive policies around health, wellness services, education and resources for people with intellectual disabilities.
Healthcare Professional Training
Limitations in training available for health care providers in caring for people with intellectual disabilities is a chief reason for the health disparities experienced by people with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics Arkansas provides training for healthcare professionals and students upon request. Help connect individuals with intellectual disabilities with the care they need by registering for our Medical Services Provider Directory.
Follow-Up Care
Medical follow-up with the right provider will help ensure that athletes get the right care, and are able to perform their very best both on and off the playing field.
View all competitions and trainings in your area, region, and statewide by visiting Special Olympics Arkansas' calendar and following us on Facebook and Instagram!
What's the Scoop on Health?
Healthy Athletes
Healthy Athletes is not only a program for athletes but, through training and hands-on experience at screenings, it is a program for healthcare students and professionals to increase knowledge of best practices in caring for and communicating with people with intellectual disabilities.
Special Olympics Arkansas offers eight different disciplines of Healthy Athletes: Fun Fitness, Health Promotion, Healthy Hearing, Opening Eyes, Special Smiles, Fit Feet, MedFest, and Strong Minds. Each athlete that attends receives free health screenings, education, and referrals for follow-up care.
Healthy Young Athletes
Special Olympics has introduced another element of Young Athletes, Healthy Young Athletes, to provide healthcare services and support, early childhood intervention, and preventive education to children aged 2-7. Education topics include: nutrition, hand washing, sun safety, oral hygiene, hydration, bone health, and active lifestyle.
Fitness Challenge
The Fitness Challenge is a 6 week fitness/wellness program designed to encourage persons with intellectual disabilities and their supporters to focus on a healthier lifestyle. Anyone can participate as an individual, team or family. Participants will track success in health and wellness through monthly submitted journals, setting goals, tracking weight, and blood pressure.
Live Healthy Education Fairs
Different from the screenings at the Healthy Athletes clinics, live healthy education fairs are purely informative hands on training segment of healthy athletes.
Health Messengers
Special Olympics Health Messengers are athletes who are trained to serve as health and wellness leaders, educators, advocates and role models within their Special Olympics communities, as well as the community at large. They are leading their teams, families, friends and communities to pursue healthy lifestyles, and are advocating for healthcare providers and governments to adopt inclusive policies around health, wellness services, education and resources for people with intellectual disabilities.
Healthcare Professional Training
Limitations in training available for health care providers in caring for people with intellectual disabilities is a chief reason for the health disparities experienced by people with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics Arkansas provides training for healthcare professionals and students upon request. Help connect individuals with intellectual disabilities with the care they need by registering for our Medical Services Provider Directory.
Follow-Up Care
Medical follow-up with the right provider will help ensure that athletes get the right care, and are able to perform their very best both on and off the playing field.
View all competitions and trainings in your area, region, and statewide by visiting Special Olympics Arkansas' calendar and following us on Facebook and Instagram!
Published April 2025
