Healthy Athletes
Special Olympics is the largest global public health organization dedicated to serving people with intellectual disabilities. Research shows that people with intellectual disabilities often receive sub-standard health care or virtually no health care at all. This population is at a higher risk than the general population in many health areas such as untreated tooth decay, hearing loss, low bone mineral density, obesity and more.
Special Olympics Healthy Athletes
Healthy Athletes provides Special Olympics DC athletes with free health screenings, education, and referrals for follow-up care in a fun, welcoming environment that removes the barriers people with ID often encounter during a visit to a doctor, dentist, or other healthcare professional. In addition to the individual benefits the program provides, each event trains healthcare professionals and teaches them how to treat people with ID in their own practices.
The Special Olympics DC Healthy Athletes Program offers health screenings in these health disciplines:
MedFest
MedFest offers a sports physical exam for athletes, needed prior to participating in Special Olympics sports programming.
Special Smiles
Special Smiles provides comprehensive oral health care information, including free dental screenings and instruction on correct brushing and flossing techniques to participating Special Olympics athletes. This also includes issuing preventative supplies like toothpaste, toothbrushes and fluoride varnish.
FUNfitness
FUNfitness provides free examinations to measure flexibility, strength, balance and aerobic fitness. These assessments are used as the basis for one-on-one education and on-site consultation to athletes and coaches on how to improve performance.
Opening Eyes
Opening Eyes provides vision examinations and prescriptions and free glasses if needed for Special Olympics athletes in partnership with Lions Clubs International.
Special Olympics Health, made possible by the Golisano Foundation, and in the United States in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is creating a world where people with intellectual disabilities have every opportunity to be healthy.
The mark “CDC” is owned by the US Dept. of Health and Human Services and is used with permission. Use of this logo is not an endorsement by HHS or CDC of any particular product, service, or enterprise.