Healthy Athletes Program

Through event-based screenings, Healthy Athletes works to improve access to health care for Special Olympics Arizona athletes; make referrals to local health practitioners when appropriate; train health care professionals and students about the needs and care of people with intellectual disabilities; collect, analyze and dessiminate data on the health status and needs of people with intellectual disabilities; and advocate for improved health policies and programs for people with intellectual disabilities. 

 

Special Olympics Arizona currently offers free health screenings in seven areas: Fit Feet (podiatry), FUNfitness (physical therapy), Health Promotion (better health and well-being), Healthy Hearing (audiology), MedFest (sports physical exam), Opening Eyes (vision) and Special Smiles (dentistry).  To find out more about when and where you can take advantage of these free services please contact Jessica Knight.

In a large study of Special Olympics athletes:

Be part of the solution.  Donate, Volunteer or Participate today!

 

The health expertise volunteers possess spans the complete spectrum of medical disciplines from podiatry to dentistry to traditional sports medicine, but one thing they all have in common is the sense of accomplishment and joy they receive from working with athletes with intellectual disabilities at a Healthy Athletes venue. Many volunteers come back event after event for years and say they get more out of the experience than they give. Health care volunteers receive free training on the specific health needs of people with intellectual disabilities, allowing them to go back to their practices and classrooms and better serve their patients and teach their students. Healthy Athletes screenings are also provided in a comfortable and fun atmosphere, so athletes and volunteers alike can enjoy themselves.

If you are a health care professional or student and want to assist Special Olympics Arizona in any of our seven disciplines, please contact Jessica Knight.