Special Olympics BC will be hosting a second Champions for Inclusive Health summit in Surrey on October 11 with the goal of advancing health outcomes for individuals with intellectual disabilities across the province.

The event has attracted significant interest across a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including NGOs, community groups, self-advocates, government representatives, researchers, school boards and more.  SOBC hopes that the summit will serve as a significant step towards the achievement of health equity, not just for their athletes, but for all individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Dan Howe, President & CEO of SOBC, said the goal of the summit is to work on creating better health outcomes in both the short-term as well as advocating for policy shifts that will deliver better healthcare in the future.

“A person with a disability is not an inherently unhealthy person,” Howe said.  “Health status is affected by genetics, social circumstances, environment, individual behaviour, and health care access. Special Olympics, along with our partners, hope to address the range of barriers that affect the health of individuals with intellectual disabilities, which include lack of access to health professionals, activity, nutrition, and resources.”

Special Olympics BC is hoping to hold more summit’s across the province to get input from all of BC’s regions and communities.

Anyone interested in assisting our efforts to advance health outcomes for individuals with intellectual disabilities can contact Scott Howe at Howe International at showe@howeinternational.consulting or call 604-250-6573.