Special is indeed the right word to use when describing the attitudes of our residents as they look forward to competing in Special Olympics games each year and 2007 was no exception. 

Internationally, Special Olympics events provide year-round sports training and athletic competition to more than 1.7 million people with intellectual disabilities in more than 150 countries.

Locally, our residents participate in the Blount County, Tennessee competition.

Developed in 1996, the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes initiative has as its mission to improve athletes’ ability to train and compete in Special Olympics. Health screenings and services are vital parts of this project. 

We all know that disease prevention and health maintenance are the keys to a longer, healthier life. To that end, scientists both inside and outside of the United States government have created Healthy People 2010. It is a comprehensive set of disease prevention and health promotion objectives for the nation to achieve over the first decade of the new century. It identifies a wide range of public health priorities and specific, measurable goals. It seeks to increase life expectancy and quality of life over the next 10 years by helping individuals gain the knowledge, motivation, and opportunities they need to make informed decisions about their health. 

One of the focus areas of Healthy People 2010 is Disability and Secondary Conditions. The goal in this area is to “Promote the health of people with disabilities, prevent secondary conditions, and eliminate disparities between people with and without disabilities in the U.S. population.”

According to Healthy People 2010, people with disabilities do not necessarily have poor health. Often secondary conditions are prompted by the lack of access to health promoting activities.

Special Olympics events are adapted to suit individual challenges and abilities and our residents benefit greatly from this program. 

Click here to view pictures from the event Special Olympics 2007.pdf

For more information visit:
Special Olympics - www.specialolympics.org
Healthy People 2010 - www.healthypeople.gov