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Special Olympics has emerged as a global leader in cutting-edge research and evaluation to promote better understanding of issues surrounding intellectual disabilities.
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Find out more about Special Olympics Research:
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With current, fact-based, externally validated research findings, Special Olympics has an opportunity to enhance the overall lives of people with intellectual disabilities. Research projects commissioned by Special Olympics are designed to provide high-level, externally validated scientific data to:
- Inform audiences about the unmet needs of people with intellectual disabilities worldwide;
- Inform the public about the competence, value and contributions of people with intellectual disabilities to the world community; and
- Guide improvements in Special Olympics programs and practices.
Did you know?
- Health screenings at the last Summer and Winter Special Olympics World Games show that more than one in four athletes — including 33 percent of those aged 8 to 17 years — had never had an eye exam.
- Many adults with intellectual disabilities failed basic hearing tests and showed obvious signs of tooth decay, with 14 percent requiring urgent dental care.
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Special Olympics conducts research and evaluation, provides grants to health professions students and Special Olympics Programs, invites Programs to be part of research and evaluation efforts, and works collaboratively with researchers and institutions.
Research raises public awareness of the barriers facing people with intellectual disabilities (legal rights, opportunities, resources, social standing, social rights, protection from abuse and discrimination, etc., across such domains as education, employment, health, social participation, government participation, sport participation, and more), creating greater relevance for Special Olympics ongoing health and sports programming efforts.
Since it developed the Strategic Research and Evaluation Plan in 1999, Special Olympics has been making targeted investments in high-priority topics that have the potential to support and extend Special Olympics Program efforts. Another catalyst for increased research and evaluation activities was The Health Status and Needs of Individuals with Mental Retardation, a study conducted in 2000 by the Yale University School of Medicine & Department of Psychology.
At the 2001 World Winter Games, Special Olympics unveiled a comprehensive study of the health status and needs for people with intellectual disabilities. This research led to the U.S. Surgeon General's report, "Closing the Gap – a National Blueprint to Improve the Health Care for Persons with Mental Retardation," and a U.S. federal appropriation to expand the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® program.
For more information on Special Olympics research, please contact:
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