The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #43305

Renee Dease, Kester Edwards, David Evangelista, and Courtney Pastorfield. Healthy Athletes Initiative, Special Olympics, 1325 G Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005-3104

People with mental retardation (MR) have high rates of undetected dental, vision, hearing, nutrition, and medical problems. Since 1995, Special Olympics has added health education and screening services to its State, Regional, and World Games as part of its Health Athletes program. These services have been highly successful in identifying unsuspected health needs and making referrals for definitive treatment. Attendance at the health venues, however, is voluntary and all athletes with MR experience many competing demands for their time and attention during the Games. Additionally, the athletes are often apprehensive of medical examinations.

To encourage participation and to allay fears, Special Olympics Healthy Athletes has produced a brochure to explain the program and to make its health venues as attractive as possible. A unique aspect of the brochure is its authorship, in large part, by athletes with MR. The authors have made the content accessible and appropriate for readers with MR. They have used their personal experiences to address the concerns and questions that are shared by many athletes with MR. Their insights have been employed to develop humor and graphics to engage the interest of the athletes. The brochure will be distributed to SO athletes at a variety of Games events, notably those attending the 2002 World Summer Special Olympics Games in Dublin, Ireland, where Special Olympics Healthy Athletes will offer dental, vision, hearing, fitness, and health promotion services.

Learning Objectives:

• To present an outreach brochure, that is state-appropriate, to encourage persons with mental retardation (MR) to attend free health screenings and prevention services.
• Participants will be able to identify the elements that facilitate understanding, anticipate apprehensions, and generate interest among persons with MR.
• Participants may apply these techniques to other communications targeting persons with MR.

Keywords: Access to Health Care, Disability

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Special Olympics Healthy Athletes Initiative
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employee