Despite severe need and higher health risks, people with intellectual disabilities are often denied health services and die on average 16 years sooner than the general population.
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.
Staying physically active is an important part of training for sport and maintaining and improving overall health. The bridge between health and sports, fitness is optimal health and performance through adequate nutrition, hydration, and physical activity.
MyHealth (a fun, self-paced, online learning environment)
Funding Statement: Special Olympics Health activities are supported by many sources, including in the United States, by Grant
Number NU27DD000021 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, with $18.1M (64%) financed with U.S. federal funds and $10.2M (36%)
supported by non-federal sources.”
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“These contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official
views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.”
The Official Central Florida Health Home for Special Olympics Florida.
Healthcare professionals and students are trained to provide screenings in an effort to educate the professional community about the health needs and abilities of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
If you are a health care professional or student and want to volunteer to help at one of our health screening events, contact us to get involved.
Healthy Communities is a model Special Olympics Health program addressing the severe health disparities faced by people with intellectual disabilities (ID) through immediate and long-term community-based solutions. Healthy Communities is working to increase access to quality health care and prevention programming to improve the health status of people with ID.
To address the health disparities faced by people with ID, Special Olympics Healthy Communities program offers the following programs:
Health screenings in 8 different disciplines known as Healthy Athletes
Year-round health, fitness, and wellness programs offered at Adult Day Training centers, schools, and recreation centers
Training for health and fitness professionals specific to serving persons with a vast array of intellectual and developmental disabilities
Opportunities to participate in community sports fitness and Special Olympics programs
Healthy Communities is a model Special Olympics Health program addressing the severe health disparities faced by people with intellectual disabilities (ID) through immediate and long-term community-based solutions. Healthy Communities is working to increase access to quality health care and prevention programming to improve the health status of people with ID.