Inclusive Health

Intellectual disability puts individuals at higher risk of dying earlier in life than the general population, for a variety of medical and institutional reasons.

The Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing at St. John Fisher College will launch a new fellowship program to develop nursing thought leaders who support and promote the health and wellbeing of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

To address the high rates of mental distress among adults with disabilities, the CDC posted helpful resources, including recommendations for people with intellectual disabilities from Special Olympics.

Special Olympics Chief Health Officer, Dr. Alicia Bazzano, MD, PhD, MPH, explains why people with intellectual disabilities have a higher risk of diabetes than the general population and how Special Olympics is addressing that gap.

The world changed in 2020. Isolation, fear, overloaded health systems, and food insecurity continue to plague the world through the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has especially made things difficult for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). Significant health disparities have been further exacerbated for those with ID. Special Olympics Health has been working hard to address these disparities.

“Take care of yourself and move forward” has been Joe Wu’s motto during these last few months. No longer able to compete and to practice on a regular basis, Wu—like so many others—has turned to virtual ways to connect and uplift those around him.

Special Olympics Chief Health Officer, Dr. Alicia Bazzano MD, PhD, MPH was a recent guest on the Ben & Bilal Show that airs on Canada Talks SiriusXM 167. They discussed the training, fitness and emotional support available virtually to athletes due to physical distancing related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Special Olympics Global Ambassador Maureen McCormick recently spoke to Kelsey Nicole Nelson on KNN/Fox Sports Radio. They discussed family members with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics sporting competition, Unified Champion Schools and Inclusive Health.

This year, Special Olympics launched the School of Strength fitness campaign in response to athletes’ need for at-home workouts. Athletes in the United States and around the world accepted the challenge to get fit and have fun while doing it.

Special Olympics Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger Daniel Smrokowski is the founder and host of the podcast Special Chronicles Show, which he started in 2008 to give voice to people with special needs.