Inclusive Health Programs

Currently, people with intellectual disabilities face significant challenges in accessing quality health care and obtaining opportunities that promote fitness and wellness, resulting in pronounced health disparities and reduced life expectancy. Special Olympics’ health programming focuses on improving the physical and social-emotional well-being of people with intellectual disabilities by increasing inclusion in health care, wellness and health systems for Special Olympics athletes and others with intellectual disabilities.

In 1997, Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® began offering free health screenings and education to Special Olympics athletes in a welcoming, fun environment. Since then, we have delivered over 2 million free health screenings and trained close to 300,000 health professionals and students to treat people with intellectual disabilities. Moreover, Special Olympics Programs have been able to expand their reach of Healthy Athletes, by offering 123,896 screenings since 2016 in new locations or in new disciplines. We offer health screenings in eight disciplines:

• MedFest (history and physical exam)
• Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes (vision/eye health)
• Healthy Hearing (audiology)
• Special Smiles (dentistry)
• Health Promotion (prevention and nutrition)
• Strong Minds (emotional health)
• FUNfitness (physical therapy)
• Fit Feet (podiatry)

The impact of these screenings on the health and wellness of Special Olympics athletes around the world is significant. Healthy Athletes has discovered undetected health problems, alleviated pain and provided health services that otherwise would not be available.

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.

The Special Olympics Indiana Unified Fitness Clubs brings together people with and without intellectual disabilities and provides opportunities for regular fitness activity to enhance fitness and inspire friendships among participants.

The Club follows the Unified Sports® Recreational Model focusing on participation rather than competition. Each Club participant receives an individual tracking device which is used to monitor individual and Club progress. The Club provides the platform for individuals to challenge themselves and earn individual and Club rewards.

The Club begins with walking as its main physical activity. The Club incorporates a wide variety of other physical activities into weekly or bi-weekly sessions as well as offers Pin and Universal Walks at destinations throughout Indiana.

To learn more about Unified Fitness Clubs, please click on the links below.