People with any developmental disability represent up to 16.65% of the US population, with people with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) representing about 1%. Due to stigma and a long history of institutionalization, many Americans have never met a person with IDD. This includes many health care providers, public health officials, and policymakers.

People with IDD face a range of systemic challenges, including inadequate provider training and inaccessible facilities, and they have less access to quality health care and health promotion programs. As a result, people with IDD experience dramatically higher rates of preventable disease, chronic pain and suffering, and premature death than the general population.

Special Olympics Oklahoma is committed to providing health and wellness opportunities which will impact the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities and their supporters.