Our goal is to make healthcare and fitness more inclusive for all.
Despite severe need and higher health risks, people with intellectual disabilities (ID) are often denied health services and die on average 16 years sooner than the general population.
Special Olympics Health, made possible by the Golisano Foundation and in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is creating a world where people with intellectual disabilities have every opportunity to be healthy.
Inclusive health means people with intellectual disabilities are able to take full advantage of the same health programs and services available to people who do not have disabilities. Our athletes face significant challenges in accessing quality healthcare, fitness and wellness, resulting in pronounced health disparities and reduced life expectancy. Special Olympics’ health programming focuses on improving the physical and social-emotional wellbeing of people with intellectual disabilities by making healthcare and health systems more inclusive.
In Minnesota, we are committed to improving the health of individuals with intellectual disabilities through promoting fitness and providing free health screenings.
Fitness
Inclusive fitness is key to a healthy community. Special Olympics Minnesota offers a few different fitness programs for athletes, Unified partners and anyone interested!
Healthy Athletes
In an effort to combat health disparities and keep athletes performing at their best, Special Olympics Minnesota offers free health screenings and education at Healthy Athletes events.
In the News
The Mental Health of People with Disabilities
November 30, 2020 – Adults with disabilities report experiencing frequent mental distress almost 5 times as often as adults without disabilities. Call your doctor if your mental health gets in the way of your daily activities for at least 14 days in a month.
Special Olympics Minnesota partners with Boger Dental to pilot free dental care program
April 13, 2022 – Earlier this year, three Special Olympics Minnesota athletes participated in a free dental care pilot with Boger Dental in Plymouth, Minnesota. The goal of this pilot was to partner with a local dental office to show that while visiting the dentist can be intimidating, it can also be an inclusive and empowering experience.
Health Screening Changes a Life: Jad’s Story
April 9, 2022 – As a young child, Jad was slower than others in terms of learning. He was also physically frail and had breathing difficulties. When he was 8, he received a free health screening conducted by Special Olympics Thailand. The doctors were shocked to discover that Jad had major cyanotic heart disease.