Healthy Athletes

The mission of Special Olympics Healthy Athletes, developed in 1996, is to improve athletes' ability to train and compete in Special Olympics. Healthy Athletes is designed to help Special Olympics athletes improve their health and fitness, leading to enhanced sports experience and improved well-being.

The Special Olympics Healthy Athletes Initiative includes these disciplines:

Fit Feet
FUNfitness
Health Promotion
Healthy Hearing
MedFest
Opening Eyes®
Special Smiles®

During a Healthy Athletes event, Special Olympics athletes receive a variety of health screenings and services in a series of clinics conducted in a welcoming, fun environment. Health care professionals and students are trained to provide the screenings in an effort to educate the professional community about the health needs and abilities of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Athletes must complete a Special Olympics Minnesota Healthy Athletes Consent Form (PDF) in order to participate with a Healthy Athletes screening. Athletes can either turn it in a the Healthy Athletes screening or mail this completed form to:

Special Olympics Minnesota
100 Washington Avenue South
Suite 550
Minneapolis, MN 55401

2010 Summer Games Healthy Athletes Results

Opening Eyes

399 athletes screened - compared to 332 in 2009
38% of athletes at competition
109 athletes received new glasses (96 glasses, 13 sport goggles)
28 pairs of plano sunglasses
90 athletes were referred for follow up treatment

Special Smiles

343 athletes screened - compared to 330 in 2009
33% of the athletes at competition
16 non-urgent care needed
5 urgent care needed

Healthy Hearing

236 athletes screened - compared to 250 in 2009
23% of the athletes at competition
144 athletes passed
92 athletes referred for follow up care

Health Promotion

254 athletes screened - compared to 189 in 2009
24% of the athletes at competition

Healthy Athletes Objectives

The key objectives of Special Olympics Healthy Athletes are:

• Improve access and health care for Special Olympics athletes at event-based health screenings and make referrals to local health practitioners when appropriate.
• Train health care professionals and students in the health professions 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 policies and programs for person with intellectual disabilities.

The success of Special Olympics Healthy Athletes events depends on partnering. Special Olympics program staff support the work of trained Healthy Athletes volunteers to provide even based health opportunities for athletes. Event managers create an environment for positive interaction between health care professionals, other volunteers, and Special Olympics athletes and their families. Products, equipment and cash donations from local, national and international companies help to support the program. Financial support of governmental and philanthropic sponsors helps the program grow. Support of the volunteer opportunities offered by Special Olympics Healthy Athletes provides ongoing community network for improved access to health care for Special Olympics athletes — creating a legacy of care.

Special Olympics Healthy Athletes Initiative

The "A New Paradigm for the Delivery of Health and Wellness Services for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities" poster was presented at the AAMR annual meeting, June 1-4, 2004.
Download poster (PDF)

Special Olympics Healthy Athletes Newsletter

Healthy Athletes Update, Issue 1 (PDF)
Healthy Athletes Update, Issue 2 (PDF)
Healthy Athletes Update, Issue 3 (PDF)
Healthy Athletes Update, Issue 4 (PDF)

Special Olympics Healthy Athletes booklet

The Special Olympics booklet "Are You A Healthy Athlete?" was selected as a winner in the prestigious 10th annual National Health Information Awards. Authored by Special Olympics athletes Kester Edwards and Renee Dease, it’s designed to educate Special Olympics athletes on being and staying healthy and to encourage participation in Healthy Athletes screenings.
Download "Are You a Healthy Athlete?" booklet (PDF)

Contact Information

Heather Harmer, Initiatives Manager
800-783-7732 X276 (Minnesota only)
612-604-1276
harmerh@somn.org