Special Olympics, Inc. is part of the movement to improve the physical and social-emotional well-being of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) by increasing their inclusion in healthcare, health promotion and disease prevention systems. Our Systems Change in Inclusive Health Subgrants help support organizations who are identifying solutions to systemic problems impacting the health and well-being of people with IDD.
We are pleased to announce the 2023 – 2024 Systems Change in Inclusive Health Subgrant awardees. Together, their reach spans the health ecosystem, and their exciting projects stand to improve health access for people with IDD!
The American Council on Exercise will develop curriculum to train physical activity leaders, both with and without IDD, to provide fitness access and education in under-served communities across the country.
The American Public Health Association will leverage their vast network of public health professionals to bring awareness and understanding of the health disparities faced by people with IDD to promote widespread inclusive practices.
Good Nutrition Ideas will promote improved nutrition support for people with IDD living in group homes by updating, enhancing and digitizing their existing MENU-AIDDS (Materials supporting Education and Nutrition for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) program.
Medicaid Medicare CHIP Services Dental Association will create a health equity assessment tool to collect and track patient risk factors. The tool will identify health disparities to operationalize quality improvement for Medicaid dental programs.
New Hampshire Leadership Series will address the lack of inclusion of people with IDD in state nutrition policies by supporting the engagement of people with IDD in regional food councils.
Sound Generations will revise and adapt their existing evidence-based fitness program for older adults to improve accessibility to people with IDD. Sounds Generations’ national network of service delivery organizations will employ the revised program, expanding national access to inclusive fitness programming.
Collaboratively, the Tennessee Justice Center and the Tennessee Disability Coalition will engage people with IDD and their families to raise awareness about the shortage of available caregivers for people with IDD and to advocate for paid family caregivers.
For more information on the Systems Change in Inclusive Health Subgrants, you can visit this webpage.
Special Olympics anticipates opening the application cycle for the 2024 – 2025 Systems Change in Inclusive Health Subgrants in spring of 2024.
Contact inclusivehealth@specialolympics.org to be contacted when the application cycle opens.
