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HEALTH RESOURCES

Tools and Information to Support Healthy Living
Health Initiatives

HEALTH RESOURCES

Tools and Information to Support Healthy Living

Health Initiatives
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RESOURCES FOR EVERY ROLE IN HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Whether you are an athlete looking to build healthy habits, a coach supporting athlete wellbeing, or a clinical volunteer sharing your expertise, these resources are designed to help you succeed. Explore tools, educational materials, and program information that support healthier athletes and stronger communities throughout Southern California.

Healthy Athletes cutout

RESOURCES FOR EVERY ROLE IN HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Whether you are an athlete looking to build healthy habits, a coach supporting athlete wellbeing, or a clinical volunteer sharing your expertise, these resources are designed to help you succeed. Explore tools, educational materials, and program information that support healthier athletes and stronger communities throughout Southern California.

ATHLETE RESOURCES

My Health

Health resources for each discipline from Special Olympics International.

EXPLORE
CLINICAL VOLUNTEER RESOURCES

Clinical Volunteer Interest Form

Interested in volunteering for Healthy Athletes? Please begin by filling out the interest form below.

GET STARTED

Free E Learning Courses

Complete free eLearning courses to build your skills in providing inclusive, high-quality care for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

SIGN IN

Working with People with Disabilities

Check out the following resources to help you learn about the best practices when working with people who have ID.

HOW TO SPEAK WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES (VIDEO)
HOW TO WORK WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES (PDF)
COACHES RESOURCES

Diabetes Education for Coaches

Check out this series on working with athletes with diabetes.

WATCH NOW

Health Education Resources Specific to Coaches

Explore tools and educational resources that promote healthier, safer athletes
EXPLORE
DISCIPLINES

Fit Feet

Healthyathletes fitfeet

FUNFitness

Healthyathletes funfitness

Health Promotion

Healthyathletes healthpromotion

Healthy Hearing

Healthyathletes healthyhearing

MedFests

Medfest

Opening Eyes

Healthyathletes openingeyes

Special Smiles

Healthyathletes specialsmiles

Strong Minds

StrongMinds
UPCOMING EVENTS

PARTNERS

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Healthyathletes fitfeet

FitFeet

Special Olympics Fit Feet is a free podiatric screening for participating Special Olympics athletes.

The athletes will have their ankles, feet, lower extremity biomechanics, and proper shoe and sock gear evaluated. Fit Feet also provides referrals to athletes who require follow up services.

SCREENING PROCESS

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Dermatologic evaluation for skin and toenail problems (athlete’s foot, ingrown toenails, nail fungus, plantar warts, etc.)

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Neurologic evaluation for strength and balance

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Measurement of appropriate shoe size (length and width) and evaluation of appropriate shoe and sock type

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Musculoskeletal evaluation for strength, balance, range of motion, deformities (i.e. hammertoes, bunions, etc)

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Biomechanical evaluation for flat feet, high arches

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Gait evaluation (watching how the athlete walks)

After the screening, the clinicians will discuss the check up with the athletes, their coach, and a parent or guardian. The athletes will also receive their shoe size, any recommendations or referrals, and literature regarding common foot problems and foot care.

Healthyathletes funfitness

FUNFitness

FUNfitness is a physical therapy screening program that is designed to assess and improve physical strength, flexibility, and balance.

The screenings also educate athletes and parents on the importance of staying physically fit and flexible and provide a hands-on opportunity for participating Special Olympics athletes to learn more about physical therapy.

Developed in partnership with the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), FUNfitness is led by volunteer physical therapists.

SCREENING PROCESS

A FUNfitness screening takes approximately 25-30 minutes. During the screening, health care clinicians will provide the athletes with:

Flexibility

Flexibility test using tape measures and goniometers

Strength

Strength test using a trunk and hand grip and of the lower body

Balancing

Balancing on one and two legs

Endurance

Endurance test where the athlete steps in place for two minutes or walks for three minutes

Education

Education: Athletes are provided with a written Home Exercise Program based on the test results

Healthyathletes healthpromotion

Health Promotion

Health Promotion is a free screening that offers health information and advice in the areas of nutrition, sun safety, bone density, tobacco cessation, and physical fitness.

Health Promotion is designed to convey and reinforce key concepts on healthy living, healthy lifestyle choices, and nation-specific health issues.

SCREENING PROCESS

Health Promotion screenings take approximately 15-30 minutes and focus on the following:

Nutrition

Nutrition/Hydration

Bonehealth

Bone Health

Sunsafety

Sun Safety

Tobaccoavoidance

Tobacco Avoidance & Cessation

Physicalactivity

Physical Activity

Healthyathletes healthyhearing

Healthy Hearing

The Healthy Hearing program is a free hearing screening designed to ensure proper audiological care for Special Olympics athletes.

Led by volunteer professionals, Healthy Hearing provides tests for ear wax and inner ear health.

SCREENING PROCESS

Healthy Hearing screenings take approximately 10 minutes and the process may include:

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Examination of ear canals for the presence of earwax

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Measurement of sounds in the inner ear to test for hearing impairment

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Middle ear screening

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Pure tone screening

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Noise protection universal earplugs or make custom fitted earplugs

During the screening, clinicians will also assist with hearing aid repair, answer any questions, and work with the families to improve any conditions that may impede an athlete’s hearing. The clinicians will use the following techniques during the screening:

  • Placing a small soft plug in the athlete’s ear for one minute to check their hearing
  • Athletes will wear earphones and raise their hands when they hear a soft beep
  • A tiny flashlight will be used in the athlete’s ears to look for unusual things that may be stuck in the ear
Medfest

MedFest

MedFests are free, comprehensive health screenings and sports physicals provided by the Special Olympics. They ensure athletes can safely participate in sports and often serve as a vital entry point to regular medical care for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

These events are designed to meet the mandatory sports physical requirements for participation while actively breaking down barriers to healthcare access.

Learn more
Healthyathletes openingeyes

Opening Eyes

The Special Olympics / Lions Club International Opening Eyes® program is a vision and eye health screening in partnership with the Lions Club International Foundation.

Led by volunteer vision care professionals, Opening Eyes is able to offer prescription eyewear, sunglasses, and sports goggles to Special Olympics athletes.

SCREENING PROCESS

The Opening Eyes screening takes approximately 30-45 minutes and includes the following tests:

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Vision check (far and near)

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Color vision

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Stereo (3-D) vision

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Eye alignment and muscle movement

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Eye pressure

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Front of the eye and inside the eye evaluation

An additional test may be included depending on the screening outcomes.

Every athlete who needs vision correction is provided with a free pair of glasses and/or sports goggles. Sometimes the athletes will receive their new glasses that day. For athletes who do not need prescription glasses, they may receive free sunglasses and swim goggles.

Healthyathletes specialsmiles

Special Smiles

The Special Smiles program offers free dental screening, oral health information, and instructions on proper brushing and flossing techniques to Special Olympics athletes.

The athletes will also receive preventative supplies, such as toothpaste and toothbrushes.

Athletes who require follow up dental services are referred to local oral health professionals.

SCREENING PROCESS

The Special Smiles screening process takes approximately 10-20 minutes and contains five stations:

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Check-in: Athletes are correctly identified and logged into the records.

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Dentists examine dental history, oral conditions, tooth decay, oral tissue health, injuries, and need for mouth guards.

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The hygiene station shows the athletes how to brush properly with the help of puppets and giant tooth brushes.

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Athletes will have a mouth guard fitting to protect their pretty smiles while competing in their sporting events.

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Athlete receives a goody bag, which includes toothpaste and a toothbrush.

StrongMinds

Strong Minds

Special Olympics Strong Minds is an interactive learning activity focused on developing adaptive coping skills.

Competition provides a natural opportunity to develop active strategies for maintaining emotional wellness under stress, such as: thinking positive thoughts, releasing stress and connecting with others.

SCREENING PROCESS

  • Athletes try different active coping strategies as they move through the stations.
  • At the end of the activities, athletes identify the strategies they like best and volunteers provide them with visual reminders to use these tools in competition and in daily life.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR MIND STRONG

StrongMinds Phone

Connect with others: Text, call or video chat friends, teammates, coaches and family.

StrongMinds Bed

Get 8 hours of sleep: Avoid caffeine and technology before bed.

StrongMinds Run

Stay active: Exercise 30 minutes a day most days of the week.

StrongMinds Food

Eat healthy foods: Fill your plate with fruit, vegetables, lean protein or beans and whole grains.

StrongMinds Meditate

Use Strong Minds strategies: Try deep breathing stretching/yoga and thinking positive thoughts.

StrongMinds HeartHand

Ask for help: Contact your medical provider if you feel overwhelmed.

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