CDC and Special Olympics: Inclusive Health

"People with intellectual disabilities (ID)—difficulty with thinking, learning, remembering, and reasoning—experience poorer access to quality health care and have poorer health outcomes than people without ID.¹ Learn how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working with Special Olympics to improve the health of people with ID.

Although progress has been made through federal policies, such as the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), that have provided people with disabilities better access to buildings, transportation, and employment, people with disabilities continue to have differences in health outcomes compared to those without disabilities.² For instance, people with intellectual disabilities (ID) are more likely to have difficulty receiving quality healthcare services, often receiving fewer preventive check-ups, such as cancer screenings.^1,2 People with ID, their caregivers, and health care providers may need to work together closely to make sure long-lasting conditions (e.g. diabetes, heart disease and epilepsy), common among this population are managed successfully.

CDC and Special Olympicsexternal icon have joined forces to address these challenges, break down barriers to inclusive health services and programs, challenge misperceptions, eliminate stigma, and improve the health of people with ID. Together, CDC and Special Olympics are working toward a future in which all children and adults with ID have the ability to get healthcare services throughout their lives and are included in programs that promote long-term health.

Healthy Athletes

The Healthy Athletesexternal icon program was created by Special Olympics to help meet the health needs of their athletes during local, state, regional, national, and international events. Officially launched in 1997, Healthy Athletes events are conducted in a welcoming, fun environment, and are designed to educate athletes on how to make healthy lifestyle choices and to identify health problems that may need additional follow-up. Currently, Healthy Athletes offers health testing in eight areas:

• Fit Feet (podiatry);
• FUNfitness (physical therapy);
• Health Promotion (better health and well-being);
• Healthy Hearing (audiology);
• MedFest (sports physical exam);
• Opening Eyes (vision);
• Special Smiles (dentistry); and
• Strong Minds (emotional well-being)..."
  Special Olympics