Healthy Athletes

The Healthy Athletes programs, presented by United Healthcare were officially launched in 1997. Special Olympics Healthy Athletes organizes its events in a welcoming, fun environment with a goal to educate athletes on healthy lifestyle choices and identify problems that may need additional follow-up.

Healthy Athletes has the world’s largest database of health data for people with intellectual disabilities. The is a common belief that people with intellectual disabilities receive the same or better health care than other when, in fact, they typically receive sub-standard care, or no health care at all.

Through Healthy Athletes, more than 155,000 health care professionals and students have been trained to treat people with intellectual disabilities. These health care professionals provide improved care to millions. Special Olympics has given out more than 110,000 pairs of prescription eyeglasses to athletes who needed them.

Special Olympics Oklahoma is proud of the many professional volunteers from the health care industry who volunteer their time at events such as Summer Games.

Presented by

Healthy Hearing

Special Olympics Healthy Hearing program is a free hearing screening designed to ensure proper audiological care for participating Special Olympics athletes. Led by volunteer professionals, Healthy Hearing also provides tests for cerumen (ear wax) and otoacoustic emissions tests.

Healthy Hearing Clinical Director

Suzanne Kimball
The University of Oklahoma
suzanne-kimball@ouhsc.edu

Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes

Special Olympics – Lions Club International Opening Eyes Program is an extensive vision care program brought to the international arena by generous donation from the Lions Club International Foundation.

Not only has Opening Eyes provided direct clinical care to athletes, training for optometrists and ophthalmologists on the most effective evaluation and treatment procedures for people with intellectual disabilities, but it also has changed attitudes. A study has shown that many professionals do not provide quality vision care to people with intellectual disabilities out of fear, lack of information or from strong negative misconceptions about what people with intellectual disabilities can achieve. This study also demonstrated that health care professionals’ participation in the Healthy Athletes initiative changes attitudes and creates a more realistic and positive view of the capabilities of people with intellectual disabilities.

Opening Eyes will help people with intellectual disabilities to see and perform better whether at athletic competitions, at school, on the job or in their daily living activities.

The Special Olympics Opening Eyes program conducts comprehensive vision screenings, which includes 15 different vision and eye health tests, a refraction for those failing the screening, and free prescription eye glasses and protective sports eye wear as indicated.

Opening Eyes Clinical Directors

Wes DeRosier
Northeastern State University College of Optometry
1001 N. Grand Ave.
Tahlequah, OK 74464
(918)456-5511 x 4000
derosier@nsuok.edu

Ryan Fenska, O.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor
Director of Rural Eye Program Clinics
Northeastern State University College of Optometry
fenska@nsuok.edu

Presented by

Supported by

Special Smiles

Special Olympics Special Smiles, presented by Drumright Dental, is a dental screening designed to provide athletes with oral hygiene education, nutrition education and free protective mouth guards for those athletes who compete in sports that may require such protection.

There is an overwhelming occurrence of poor dental health among people with intellectual disabilities. According to data collected from 9,000 Special Olympics athletes in 2001, 30 percent of athletes had visible tooth decay, 30 percent were missing one or more permanent teeth, 44 percent showed obvious signs of gingival infection and 4 percent had no natural teeth left in their mouth. (Information from Special Olympics World Games research.)

Families and caregivers recognize the importance of maintaining good oral health; however, the reality is that many individuals with intellectual disabilities go without daily oral hygiene care simply because it is too difficult to get the necessary compliance. This makes the access to reliable dental care even more essential.

The Special Olympics Special Smiles program offers dental screenings, health education, preventative services and identifies potential sources of treatment and follow-up care from community based dentists and educational institutions.

Special Smiles Clinical Director

Travis Burkett, DDS
Drumright Dental Center
Dentistry
1226 W. Broadway
P. O. Box 712
Drumright, OK 74030
Travis.burkett@gmail.com