Healthy Athletes

Dedicated to providing health screenings and education to athletes while changing the way health professionals interact with people with intellectual disabilities.

Special Olympics is the world’s largest public health organization for people with intellectual disabilities, providing access to free health services for a population with significant, unmet health needs. Often, those with intellectual disabilities and their families don’t understand what is needed to optimize their health. Healthy Athletes provides accessible information, resources, systems and policies at the individual, community, national and global levels that support them in realizing sustainable healthy and productive lives.

What We Do

Special Olympics Healthy Athletes provides accessible information, resources, systems and policies at the individual, community, national and global levels that support Special Olympics Southern California athletes in realizing sustainable healthy and productive lives.

Volunteer Benefits

Team Wellness is a unique health and wellness program designed for individuals with and without intellectual disabilities. Participants are led by a trained Wellness Coach and receive guidance, direction, and encouragement.

2023 Program Details

Screenings

Volunteers

Clinical Directors

WHY IT MATTERS

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), despite the severe need and higher health risk, people with intellectual disabilities are denied health services, community interventions, and there is a lack of targeted interventions and programs for the population. Health care professionals who volunteer with Special Olympics have found that Special Olympics athletes are at increased risk of secondary health issues: