Athlete Leadership

Special Olympics’ research and evaluation (R&E) plays a critical role supporting Special Olympics’ global health strategy by leading the measurement of health outcomes resulting from Special Olympics health programming and providing monitoring and evaluation technical assistance to country and state Special Olympics Programs. On this episode of Inclusion Revolution Radio, host Novie Craven spoke with Dr. Alicia Dixon-Ibarra, Special Olympics Director of Fitness and Health Research, and Special Olympics athlete leaders Kimberly Schickley and Allen Tobin about the importance of inclusive health research.

Through Project ALL STAR, a Special Olympics research and evaluation initiative, athlete co-researchers aim to improve inclusive health programming and make a difference in the lives of fellow athletes. Inclusion Revolution Radio host Novie Craven discusses the significance of the athlete perspective in inclusive health research with Dr. Alicia Dixon-Ibarra, Special Olympics Director of Fitness and Health Research, and Special Olympics athlete leaders Kimberly Schickley and Allen Tobin.

Special Olympics is racing toward a tech evolution. The athletes are leading the sprint.

Kiera Byland BEM shares her journey since being elected as Global Athlete Congress Chair during the World Games in Berlin

To many, running is a solitary sport. One person, one route, one goal. But for Samantha Rodriguez, running has always been more than that. It’s been a way to connect, form a community, and create opportunities for those around her.

For World Autism Awareness Day, we highlight the stories and efforts of our athletes for the promotion and advocacy of the full recognition of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), including autism spectrum disorder.

Rick Stonich’s Special Olympics Colorado journey started 23 years ago when he lived next door to an elderly couple who housed two people with intellectual disabilities. Now he's been a golf coach and Unified partner, finding fulfillment in the organization.

Throughout Washington D.C., Special Olympics athletes, Unified partners, and staff from 47 states and the District of Columbia are meeting with members of Congress to advocate for the continuance of funding for the movement’s life-changing work in education and health.

A chance encounter brought Nick Cammarota to Special Olympics for the first time. Now more than a decade later, he hasn't looked back and works full-time with Special Olympics Pennsylvania.

One Special Olympics club in Kenya struggles to increase athlete and coach participation to pre-Covid levels two years after the end of the lockdown.