[Minneapolis, Minnesota, 20 June 2026] Today, Special Olympics announced the launch of SO-Link (Linking Athletes with Scientific Opportunities)—an initiative that connects Special Olympics athletes with opportunities to participate in Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved research and evaluation projects relevant to their health. SO-Link enables athletes to choose to participate in studies that are aimed at understanding and improving their health, and makes it easier for scientists to include people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in their research. The announcement was made by Special Olympics Chief Health Officer, Dr. Dimitri Christakis, during the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
In his announcement, Dr. Christakis highlighted the health disparities that people with IDD face, including a life expectancy of 16 to 20 years less than people without IDD, often due to preventable and treatable health conditions. Christakis emphasized that despite these disparities, people with IDD remain disproportionately underrepresented in health data.
“Health equity for people with IDD can only be achieved when there is equity in opportunities to participate in research”, shared Dr. Christakis. “75% of studies exclude people with IDD even when they could be eligible. As a result, people with IDD take many medications in ways that have never been studied. When scientists are asked why people with IDD are excluded from their studies, the most common answer is that enrolling them is too difficult…SO-Link is designed to change that.”
Studies facilitated through SO-Link will be conducted in partnership with leading scientists and institutions, and each study will be formally approved by Institutional Review Boards and carefully vetted by Special Olympics staff.
To date, over 15,500 athletes with IDD from 20 Special Olympics North America Programs have signed up to join SO-Link and indicated willingness to consider, together with their families and their doctors, participation in research and evaluation projects.
As David Egan, a member of the athlete advisory board who was instrumental in the development of SO-Link shared:
“As a Special Olympics athlete and International Global Messenger, I am proud that SO-Link will open more research participation opportunities for individuals like me. I think all athletes should be connected to research to ensure improved health and well-being.”
The launch of SO-Link reflects Special Olympics commitment to elevating athlete voices and advancing a more inclusive, evidence-based health system for people with IDD.