Healthy Athletes

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The mission of Special Olympics Healthy Athletes, developed in 1996 by Special Olympics International, is to improve athletes’ ability to train and compete in Special Olympics. Healthy Athletes is designed to help Special Olympics athletes improve their health and fitness, leading to enhanced sports experience and improved well-being.  Healthy Athletes offers exams in six disciplines, including Fit Feet FUNFitness (Physical Therapy), Healthy Hearing, Health Promotion, Opening Eyes, and Special Smiles.
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The Disciplines

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Fit Feet
Special Olympics Fit Feet is a free podiatric screening for participating Special Olympics athletes evaluating ankles, feet, lower extremity biomechanics, and proper shoe and sock gear. 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.

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FUNFitness
​Special Olympics FUNfitness is a physical therapy screening program that is designed to assess and improve physical strength, flexibility, balance, and aerobic fitness, educate athletes and parents on the importance of becoming and staying physically fit, and provide a hands-on opportunity for participating Special Olympics athletes to learn more about physical therapy. FUNfitness is directed by volunteer physical therapists that assess and provide referral for athletes needing either physical therapy rehabilitative or fitness programming services.

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Health Promotion
​Special Olympics Health Promotion is a free screening that offers health information and advice in the areas of nutrition, sun safety, bone density, tobacco cessation, and physical fitness. Health Promotion is designed to convey and reinforce key concepts on healthy living, healthy lifestyle choices, and nation-specific health issues.

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Healthy Hearing
​Special Olympics Healthy Hearing program is a free hearing screening designed to ensure proper audiological care for participating Special Olympics athletes. Led by volunteer professionals, Healthy Hearing also provides tests for cerumen (ear wax) and otoacoustic emissions tests.

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Opening Eyes
​The Special Olympics-Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes program is a vision and eye health screening in partnership with the Lions Clubs International Foundation. Led by volunteer vision care professionals, Opening Eyes is able to offer prescription eyewear, sunglasses, and sports goggles to Special Olympics athletes.

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Special Smiles
​Special Olympics 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.

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Strong Minds​
Strong Minds is an interactive learning activity focused on developing adaptive coping skills. Competition provides a natural opportunity to develop active strategies for maintaining emotional wellness under stress, such as: thinking positive thoughts, releasing stress and connecting with others. Athletes learn about and try a few different active coping strategies as they move through the stations. Before exiting, athletes identify the strategies they like best and volunteers provide them with visual reminders to use these tools in competition and in daily life.

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MedFest
People with intellectual disabilities who wish to participate in Special Olympics first need to receive a participation physical exam and clearance from their primary care physician. It is only after the athlete successfully completes the physical examination can they officially enter into Special Olympics sports programming, helping to assure the safe participation of every athlete.  The program has since become one of the most effective tools for global growth for Special Olympics.  A MedFest exam consists of vitals (blood pressure, height and weight), cardiology, abdominal, and musculoskeletal checks.

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What is a Clinical Director?

• Licensed professional
• Proven interest of service
• Member of or active in local/state/national professional organization
• Geographic accessibility to program activities
• Demonstrated leadership abilities
• Volunteer commitment of 3 years for Program Clinical Director
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Role of Clinical Director

• Attend a one day Train-the-Trainer workshop, followed by a practical experience the next day at a Special Olympics Louisiana competition (Friday and/or Saturday activity)
• Recruit/train volunteers for venue
• Work with a group of state or regional clinical advisors and Special Olympics Louisiana staff to develop or locate appropriate education materials, equipment and supplies needed for an event
• Responsible for working with state or county Special Olympics Louisiana program leaders
• Supervise the venue
• Recruit computer savvy volunteers to enter exam data onsite
• Report data to Special Olympics Louisiana
• Evaluate event
• Continue to seek opportunities and partnerships for Healthy Athletes activities
• Participate within Healthy Athletes team, working with the coordinators of other disciplines in the planning capacity sharing of the venue
• Oversee 2-3 events annually that may take one to two days each
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Contact Us if you are interested in becoming a Clinical Director.  For additional info about Clinical Directors, visit our Medical Volunteer page.

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