Delta Dental Healthy Athletes Program
Special Olympics is already known for changing the lives of millions of athletes around the world. That change has now become even stronger since the Delta Dental Healthy Athletes Program was introduced at the 2001 Summer Games, changing the lives of athletes who have had minimal or no access to basic health care in the past.
Mission
The mission of the Special Olympics Delta Dental Healthy Athletes Program is to improve, through
better health and fitness, each athlete's ability to train and compete in Special Olympics.
Cost to Athletes
The purpose of the initiative is to provide basic healthcare screenings and testing to Special
Olympics athletes AT NO COST.
Benefits to Athletes
Statistics show that people with cognitive disabilities often do not receive the healthcare attention
they need. Delta Dental Healthy Athletes provides an additional opportunity for increasing the
physical fitness of people with cognitive disabilities. Any Special Olympics Wisconsin athletes
who has a valid medical on file is welcome to participate the in Healthy Athletes program even if they
are not registered for that particular state tournament.
Special Olympics Wisconsin offers the following Delta Dental Healthy Athlete programs
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Opening Eyes conducts extensive vision screening, including vision and eye health tests, a refraction for those failing the screening, and free prescription eye glasses and/or prescription sports eye wear to those athletes that are in need of new glasses. If it is determined that an athlete does not need glasses, sunglasses are provided to the athlete. Offered at Indoor Sports Tournament and Summer Games. For more information, click here to visit SOI's Opening Eyes Web page.
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Special Smiles performs dental screenings to increase awareness of oral health. At a Special Smiles screening, dentists and hygienists identify oral problems, while athletes are provided with hygiene education, a "goody-bag" with dental care items and, if appropriate for the sport the athlete participates in, a free mouth guard. Offered at Indoor Sports Tournament, Summer Games and Outdoor Sports Tournament. For more information, click here to visit SOI's Special Smiles Web page.
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Fit Feet screens athletes’ feet and ankles for deformities, evaluates skin and nail problems, and also checks for proper shoes and socks. Athletes are educated on general foot care and are given informational pamphlets to share with family and/or caregivers. Sneaker balls and if available a pair of socks are given to athletes that participate in the Fit Feet screening. Offered at Outdoor Sports Tournament. For more information, click here to visit SOI's Fit Feet Web page.
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Healthy Hearing conducts hearing screenings. Reduced hearing can have a significant negative impact upon an athlete’s ability to respond to directions in training, as well as understand other verbal information from coaches. The safety of the athlete also can be impeded by hearing loss, as can the athlete’s interpersonal relationships. Screening of hearing is the first step in the process of identifying an athlete’s hearing loss and preventing its negative effects from occurring in sporting and social events. Offered at Indoor Sports Tournament. For more information, click here to visit SOI's Healthy Hearing Web page.
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FUNfitness is the comprehensive physical therapy component of Healthy Athletes. Funfitness is designed to assess, improve and educate participants on flexibility, functional strength and balance. FUNfitness provide a hands-on opportunity for athletes to learn about physical therapy. Offered at Indoor Sports Tournament and Outdoor Sports Tournament. For more information, click here to visit SOI's FUNfitness Web page.
- Health Promotion - New at Summer Games 2008!
Health Promotion seeks to find the best ways to convey and reinforce key concepts about health promoting behaviors to people with intellectual disabilities. Health Promotion screens on bone density and BMI and educates (through a series of interactive displays and games) on sun safety, bone building diets, the importance of fruits and vegetables, tobacco avoidance and cessation, and other topics. Health Promotions will be offered at Summer Games starting in 2008. For more information, click here to visit SOI's Health Promotion Web page.
Requirements
Any SOWI athlete that has a current medical on file with the SOWI Program Office can participate
in the Healthy Athletes Program. All athletes with current medicals are encouraged
to attend Healthy Athlete screenings even if they are not competing at the tournament which Healthy
Athletes is being offered!
Thank you to Delta Dental and the Lions Club for making the Healthy Athletes Program possible!
Volunteer Professionals
More than 125 dentists, hygienists, optometrists, opticians, audiologists, physical therapists, podiatrists,
nurses and physical therapy assistants from all over the state give their time to make
Healthy Athletes a success.
SOWI would also like to thank the following professionals for volunteering their time and expertise to be clinical directors for Special Olympics Wisconsin’s Healthy Athletes Program:
Clinical Directors
- Robert Dwyer, DDS – Special Smiles Clinical Director
- Anne Hvisdak, RDH, CDHC – Special Smiles Clinical Director
- Kathleen Endres, RDH, CDHC – Special Smiles Clinical Director
- Kellye Knueppel, OD, FCOVD – Opening Eyes Clinical Director
- Lois Harrison, PT – Fun Fitness Clinical Director
- Diane Isnard, PT – Fun Fitness Clinical Director
- Dr. David Henry – Healthy Hearing Clinical Director
- Dr. Birute Balciunas – Fit Feet Clinical Director
- Judy Stych, RN, CDDN – Health Promotions Clinical Director
Melissa Schoenbrodt
Phone: (800) 552-1324 Ext. 216
E-mail: mschoenbrodt@specialolympicswisconsin.org