The Special Olympics Healthy Athletes initiative is designed to help Special Olympics athletes improve their health and fitness. Developed in 1996, Healthy Athletes mission is to improve each athlete's ability to train and compete in Special Olympics as well as life.
The key objectives of Special Olympics Healthy Athletes are:
- Improve access & health care for athletes at event-based and other clinics;
- Make referrals & recommendations for follow-up to local health practitioners;
- Train health care professionals, students, and others about needs and care of athletes;
- Collect, analyze, and disseminate data on the health status and needs of athletes;
- Advocate for improved health policies and programs for athletes.
The Special Olympics Healthy Athletes disciplines include:
Each state coordinates Healthy Athletes programs using a staff member or volunteer; as well as, determines their own schedule of what to offer, when, and where.
Each discipline is run by a Clinical Director with expertise, interest, and connections to the field in the specific discipline. Each Clinical Director makes a three-year voluntary commitment to run that specific discipline. Volunteer Special Olympics Healthy Athletes Clinical Directors are a very important part of the Healthy Athletes program. They hold the key to a successful Healthy Athletes event. The Clinical Director's key roles are:
- Special Olympics Liaison - Identify and schedule the best opportunities to provide Healthy Athletes screenings. It is a joint effort between the Clinical Directors and State Office.
- Recruit and Train Volunteer Health Professionals - Is the best persons to identify health volunteers because they know their community and its local health care professionals. Potential volunteers may come from: Private Pracititioners; Universities/Colleges/Schools; Health and Professional Associations; Medical Facilities; and Government Medical Facilities (Military, VA, State/National/Local).
- Obtain Equipment and Supplies - Needed supplies and equipment may be available to the Clincial Director through donations or loans obtained by networking with local sponsors and health services.
- Supervise Healthy Athletes Venues - Provides details on setting up and supervises the Healthy Athlete venue, makes sure that the event is excuted smoothly, problem solver if problem arrises.
- Collect and Report Data - Data collected during Healthy Athletes screenings are used to learn about the health needs of Special Olympics athletes, to validate new testing methods, to create educational materials and to advocate for programs, resources and policies to enhance health care for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Special Olympics Indiana currently offers Healthy Hearing, Opening Eyes and Special Smiles with Health Promotion to be added in 2008.
For more information about Special Olympics Healthy Athletes click here.
If interested in becoming a Special Olympics Indiana Clincial Director contact Pam Eakin at (800) 742-0612 ext. 232 or email