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On March 16 and 17, a conference on health literacy for people with intellectual disabilities brought together representatives from all seven Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® disciplines, as well as interested academic experts and other community-based organizations to learn from health-literacy experts and engage in candid dialogues about improving health information for athletes and their families. The conference was supported through a grant from The Enoch-Gelbard Foundation.
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Special Olympics Healthy Athletes Global Clinical Advisors - L to R: Alice Lenihan M.P.H., R.D., L.D.N. (Health Promotion, Nutrition), Gil Herer Ph.D. (Healthy Hearing), Steve Perlman D.D.S., M.Sc.D. (Special Smiles), Matt Holder M.D., M.B.A. (Health Promotion and MedFest), Susan Danberg OD, FCOVD (Opening Eyes), Patrick Nunan D.P.M. (FitFeet), Joan Medlen R.D., L.D. (Health Promotion and Health Literacy/Communication), Donna Bainbridge PT, EdD, ATC (FUNfitness), Mary Pittaway MA, RD, LD (Health Promotion, Bone Health), Beverly Berkin CHES, FASHA (Health Promotion, Sun Safety), and Mark Wagner D.M.D., Vice President of Health Programs at Special Olympics. |
Leading up to the conference, an athlete focus group was held in Potomac, Maryland (USA); seven Special Olympics athletes, ranging in age from 22 to 45 and representing diverse living situations, shared their thoughts about how they receive health information. Ben Collins and Mary Jo Wybierela, focus group participants, joined Pam Yerg, Area Director for Special Olympics Montgomery County, as conference speakers. This presentation set the stage for a lively and educational forum for participants to explore the role of health literacy in Special Olympics programs throughout the two-day event.
One of the major outcome goals for this unprecedented health-literacy discussion was to establish a common understanding when defining health literacy, as well as issues related to literacy for people with intellectual disabilities, and techniques and strategies that work to promote understanding and action for this target audience. Throughout the conference, a common motif emerged: involve a diverse group of athletes in the process from the start and check back with them frequently.
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Special Olympics Athletes Ben Collins and Mary Jo Wybierela and Special Olympics Maryland Area Director Pam Yerg present share their experiences participating in a health literacy focus group with conference attendees. |
Armed with a clear understanding of health literacy and related issues for people with intellectual disabilities, participants then gathered in breakout groups to talk about incorporating health-literacy lessons learned from conference discussions into current Special Olympics programs. A consistent theme presented itself upon analysis: the need and desire to create health messages that each audience can access, understand and use in a day-to-day manner to improve health and participation in sports as well.
The overall consensus was that tangible suggestions, ideas and strategies were discussed which can propel Special Olympics programs into model programs promoting health literacy for people with intellectual disabilities.
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L to R - Back: Meaghan McHugh M.P.H., Senior Manager for Health Promotion, Program Operations and Support, Special Olympics, Mary Pittaway MA, RD, LD (Health Promotion, Bone Health), Kester Edwards, Coordinator for Health Promotions, Special Olympics, Special Olympics Athlete and Featured Speaker Ben Collins, Anne Tabor M.P.H., R.D., L.D., Clinical Director for Health Promotion, Special Olympics Iowa, and Joan Medlen R.D., L.D. (Health Promotion and Health Literacy/Communication). Front: Special Olympics Athlete and Featured Speaker Mary Jo Wybierela and Alice Lenihan M.P.H., R.D., L.D.N. (Health Promotion, Nutrition) |
Conference organizer Meaghan McHugh, Special Olympics Senior Manager for Health Promotion, stated, “Many conferences leave participants wondering what will happen to their comments and suggestions. They question how they can use what they learned in a practical way. This health-literacy conference encouraged participants to develop a workable list of next steps toward a more effective and athlete-driven Healthy Athletes program. This conference was an invaluable first step in incorporating health literate messages that really resonate for Special Olympics target audiences.”
Given the quality of participation, ideas, and especially the enthusiasm of athletes to guide the process, it was a tremendous start with a bright future ahead. |
