The mission of Special Olympics Health is to provide access to preventive health programming and access to quality health care for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to improve their physical health and social and emotional well-being. Over 80% of healthcare providers are not professionally trained to treat people with intellectual disabilities.
Read more about Healthy Athletes from Special Olympics Georgia Athlete Lewis.
You can Join the Revolution for Healthcare Inclusion by taking one of our free eLearning courses today! Visit https://www.specialolympics.org/health-professional-training for more information about available courses.
Instructions on how to register to take the virtual learn.specialolympics.org courses for general Health Professionals or Health Professionals interested in becoming a Clinical Director can be found here [ https://www.dropbox.com/s/ih4001fzmltz5lr/General%20health.wellness%20professional.pdf?dl=0 ]
If you are already a Clinical Director and would like to review a course on your discipline, follow the instructions here [ https://www.dropbox.com/s/yvk3b1j4c0adoxk/Howto-CreateAnAccount_HEALTH_Clinical%20Director_%20NEW.pdf?dl=0 ] to create a learn.specialolympics.org profile.
In 2023, SOGA will hold Healthy Athlete screenings at Indoor Winter Games, Summer Games, and Fall Games.
INDOOR WINTER GAMES
January 28, 2023 at LakePoint Sports Complex
Healthy Athletes offers Special Smiles and Healthy Hearing!
Special Smiles offers free dental screening, oral health information, and instructions on brushing and flossing properly to participating Special Olympics athletes, as well as preventative supplies like toothpaste and toothbrushes. Athletes who require follow up dental services are referred to local oral health professionals.
SUMMER GAMES
2023 Summer Games May 20th at Emory University.
Every year at the Summer Games, Healthy Athletes offers Special Smiles, Opening Eyes, Fit Feet, and Health Promotion.
In partnership with the International Federation of Podiatrists (FIP) and the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, Fit Feet also provides referrals for those participating Special Olympics that require follow up services.
2022 State Summer Games athletes screened: 34
Led by volunteer vision care professionals, Opening Eyes is able to offer prescription eyewear, sunglasses, and sports goggles to Special Olympics athletes.
2022 State Summer Games athletes screened: 35
Special Smiles offers free dental screening, oral health information, and instructions on brushing and flossing properly to participating Special Olympics athletes, as well as preventative supplies like toothpaste and toothbrushes. Athletes who require follow up dental services are referred to local oral health professionals.
2022 State Summer Games athletes screened: 30
Opening Eyes volunteer Dr. Rouw with an athlete waiting to be screened!
FALL GAMES
Location: Valdosta, GA
Date: October 6th through 8th , 2023
Health Promotion uses interactive educational tools and 
displays, motivational literature and demonstrations to heighten the awareness of athletes, reinforcing the need to improve and maintain an enhanced level of wellness and self-care.
Led by volunteer vision care professionals, Opening Eyes is able to offer prescription eyewear, sunglasses, and sports goggles to Special Olympics athletes.
Special Smiles offers free dental screening, oral health information, and instructions on brushing and flossing properly to participating Special Olympics athletes, as well as preventative supplies like toothpaste and toothbrushes. Athletes who require follow up dental services are referred to local oral health professionals.
Get to Healthy Athletes early for a free prize! All Healthy Athletes participants will be entered into a raffle to win an XBOX One X!
If you are interested in volunteering at a Healthy Athletes screening, or have questions regarding SOGA’s Healthy Athletes program you may contact Liz Smith at liz.smith@specialolympicsga.org.