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Special Olympics Chairman and CEO Timothy P. Shriver delivered the keynote address to more than 400 attendees at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Community Access to Child Health (CATCH) Conference in Chicago, Illinois (USA) on 16 July 2004. Shriver reflected on the launch of Special Olympics at Soldier Field, just a few blocks from the hotel, 36 years ago and how much had been accomplished in expanding the movement and serving millions of athletes over those years, both in the United States and around the world.
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Special Olympics Chairman and CEO Timothy P. Shriver (left) delivered the keynote address at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) CATCH Conference; joining him are Nicole Composono and George Hebel, Special Olympics Illinois athletes; and Dr. Tom Tonniges, Director, AAP Department of Community Pediatrics.
Composono and Hebel have both completed training as Global Messengers for Special Olympics Illinois. Global Messengers are an initiative of Special Olympics Athlete Leadership Programs (ALPs), which allow athletes to explore opportunities for participation in roles previously considered "non-traditional," such as as members of Boards of Directors, spokespersons, coaches and more. As leaders and message-bearers of the movement, Global Messengers communicate the powerful declarations of hope, acceptance, dignity and courage of all Special Olympics athletes. [Photos by Dr. Stephen Corbin] |
He noted that while the growth of Special Olympics has been good for so many people, much remains to be done. Millions more people need to benefit and the entire world needs to have its attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities improved. Groundbreaking public attitude research conducted in 10 countries by Special Olympics on more than 7,200 people and released at the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Ireland last summer demonstrated that attitudes are woefully deficient across widely varying cultures and are based on widespread ignorance and prejudice. "It is remarkable," he noted, "that in this country today, nearly three-quarters of adults believe that children with intellectual disabilities, regardless of how mild, should be educated in segregated settings."
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Special Olympics Illinois athlete Nicole Composono helped pass out custom prescription pads. |
Other alarming manifestations of ignorance and neglect are the unmet health care needs and lack of appropriate access to health care by people with intellectual disabilities. Citing statistics from Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® screening programs and from policy reviews conducted by Special Olympics and other health policy leaders, he made the clear case that people with intellectual disabilities are sicker and have more complications and pain than the rest of the population, not principally from their disability, but from the inability or unwillingness of the system and providers to accommodate them. Shriver thus challenged the attendees, primarily pediatricians, to reach out to people with intellectual disabilities, to help them receive their sports physical exams and needed care, to work to improve their health, and to grant them dignity.
Two Special Olympics Illinois athletes, Nicole Composono and George Hebel, helped Shriver pass out a special prescription pad to those in attendance, encouraging them to write prescriptions for participation in Special Olympics for those patients in their practices who need to increase their physical activity and social interaction.
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Attendees at the conference were issued special prescription pad and encouraged to write "prescriptions" recommending participation in Special Olympics for those patients in their practices who need to increase their physical activity and social interaction. |
The custom pads read, in part, "Your prescription is to participate in daily sports training, competition, physical activity or exercise. These are available through local Special Olympics Programs where you can join with other athletes, family members and volunteers. You can expect improved health, new skills, competitive opportunities, increased confidence, more friends, a stronger community and FUN." It adds the notation, "There are virtually no known negative medical consequences to participating in physical activity across the lifespan."
"I know that I am somewhat preaching to the choir here today, because I know how hard you work for all children, especially those with special health care needs," said Shriver. "But I ask you to do even more, because I know that you can and that it can make a difference."
Dr. Tom Tonniges, Director, AAP Department of Community Pediatrics, led the standing ovation for Shriver, Composono and Hebel, thanking Special Olympics and the Shriver family for all of their efforts in so many aspects for the betterment of society. |
