Healthy Athletes
People with developmental disabilities represent up to 16.65% of the U.S. population, with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) comprising approximately 1%. Due to stigma and a long history of institutionalization, many Americans—including health care providers, public health officials, and policymakers—have had limited interaction with people with IDD. As a result, people with IDD continue to face significant systemic barriers to health, including limited provider training, inaccessible facilities, and reduced access to quality health care and health promotion programs. These barriers contribute to higher rates of preventable disease, chronic pain, and premature death compared to the general population.
Health Disparities
2x
People with IDD are twice as likely to die prematurely
14%
Adults with IDD experience obesity at a 14% higher rate
3 in 5
Up to 3 in 5 people with IDD may have a cooccurring mental health condition
What Is Inclusive Health?
At Special Olympics, inclusive health means ensuring that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have equitable access to affordable, high quality health care. It also means empowering individuals with IDD to actively participate in decisions about their health and life choices so they can achieve their best possible health. Making inclusive health a reality requires addressing health disparities by adapting:
- Health policies and laws
- Programs and services
- Training and education
- Research and data collection
- Funding streams
Inclusive Health Overview
Everyone has the same right to health. Inclusive health recognizes this right and calls for a collective effort to ensure people with IDD are fully included in health systems, services, and communities.
Why It Matters
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), people with intellectual disabilities often experience severe unmet health needs and higher health risks, yet are frequently denied health services, community interventions, and targeted programs. Data collected through Special Olympics health screenings shows that athletes are at increased risk for preventable and untreated health conditions:
- 37% have untreated tooth decay
- 37% need a new or updated eyeglass prescription
- 23% have low bone density
- 26% fail hearing screenings
- 48% have at least one skin or nail condition
- 59% of adult athletes and 30% of youth athletes are overweight or obese
Special Olympics Oregon offers Healthy Athletes® screenings across nine clinical disciplines. These free, event based examinations provide education, early identification of health concerns, and referrals to local providers when needed.
- FUNfitness® – Physical Therapy
- Fit Feet® – Podiatry
- Health Promotion® – Healthy habits and wellbeing
- Healthy Hearing® – Audiology
- MedFest® – Sports physical examinations
- Opening Eyes® – Vision care
- Special Smiles® – Oral health and dentistry
- Strong Minds® – Mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Healthy Young Athletes® – Pediatric screening and early intervention
Get Involved
Become a Clinical Director
Clinical Directors play a vital leadership role in Healthy Athletes screenings, helping deliver health education, referrals, and advocacy for athletes.
If you are interested in becoming a Clinical Director, please contact SOOR Health and Wellness Director Samantha Younes at syounes@soor.org
Care Coordination & Partnerships
Through eventbased screenings, Healthy Athletes works to:
- Identify unmet health needs
- Provide education and immediate feedback
- Refer athletes to local health care providers when appropriate
Special Olympics Oregon is proud to partner with organizations that support care
coordination, including:
Training the Health Care Workforce
Special Olympics Oregon collaborates with local health organizations to:
- Train health care professionals on providing inclusive, respectful care for people
with intellectual disabilities - Collect, analyze, and share data on the health status and needs of people with
IDD to inform systemslevel change
Principles of Inclusive Health
Equitable Access
Ensuring people with IDD have access to the services, supports, and resources needed to achieve their full health potential.
Full Participation
Ensuring people with IDD are meaningfully included in health programs, services, and decisionmaking.
Strategies for Inclusive Health
Grounded in the two principles above, Special Olympics promotes four key strategies:
- Welcoming Spaces
Create physical environments and programs that are accessible, inclusive, and welcoming to people with IDD. - Accessible Communication
Ensure written, verbal, and visual communications are clear, respectful, and accessible
to people with IDD.
- Awareness & Training
Train staff and partners to understand the barriers faced by people with IDD and how to remove them. - Sustainable & Intentional Inclusion
Build longterm inclusion by fostering organizational cultures that value equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
Oregon Inclusive Health Resources
OODH Linkage Project
The Oregon Office on Disability and Health (OODH) Linkage Project is enrolling adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Oregon. This free program supports participants in working toward preventive health goals in English or Spanish.
Participants also gain access to resources such as the Taking Charge of My Health Care Toolkit and Resource Navigation Guides.
For questions or referrals, contact oodhlink@ohsu.edu.
OHSU ICAN
The Interprofessional Care Access Network (ICAN) brings together students from Nursing, Medicine, and Dentistry to address social determinants of health for underserved individuals and families.
Through community based learning, students gain experience addressing complex
health needs while supporting vulnerable populations.
Oregon Health Authority Ombuds Program
The Ombuds Program advocates for Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) members to ensure access to quality care. Members can contact the program for help resolving concerns or sharing feedback.
Oregon Community Health Workers Association (ORCHWA)
ORCHWA supports and advances Community Health Workers and peer health professionals across Oregon, promoting equitable health systems through advocacy, training, and leadership.
Caring Smiles Dental
Caring Smiles Dental in Beaverton, Oregon, specializes in dental care for individuals with physical, developmental, and cognitive disabilities. Their team provides customized, compassionate care designed to ensure comfort, dignity, and positive dental experiences.