Special Olympics Prince Edward Island Awarded With Highest Health Distinction
Special Olympics is the largest sporting organization in the world for people with intellectual disabilities (ID), creating a world where people with ID have the opportunity to be healthy. Today, it was announced that Special Olympics Prince Edward Island is being recognized as a Healthy Community -- one of 33 locations to receive the Healthy Community distinction that denotes a year-round focus on advancing the health of people with intellectual disabilities.
Now in its 7th year, the Special Olympics Healthy Communities initiative continues to improve health and wellness for people with intellectual disabilities around the world. Since 2012, Tom Golisano and the Golisano Foundation, have committed $37 million to Special Olympics global health programming. The goal is to increase access to health, fitness and wellness programs for people with intellectual disabilities -- no matter where they live. So far, the Healthy Communities initiative has been activated in 64 countries and has made significant advancements in increasing access to inclusive health, fitness and wellness programs for people with intellectual disabilities in the communities in which they live.
Locally, Special Olympics PEI has made tremoundous progress in its priority areas which include increasing health and wellness programming, providing Healthy Athlete screenings, assisting with follow-up care referrals, engaging health care providers and identifying partners to support and sustain the project beyond 2021. This past year we have seen 48% of our Island athletes participating in weekly health & wellness programs and we completed 334 screenings with 100% of our local referrals having a place to go for follow-up care.
“Special Olympics is commited to the health of our athletes, and I am so honored to highlight the terrific work of Special Olympics Prince Edward island. It demonstrates the role Special Olympics can serve as the catalyst to inclusive health,” said Mary Davis, Special Olympics CEO. “People with intellectual disabilities often experience poorer quality and diminished access to health services and systems. It is important to recognize the growing number of health champions at the community, regional and global levels who are working so tirelessly to promote inclusive health for people with intellectual disabilities. Our organizational focus on year-round health work is rooted in the evidence around its need.”
“We are delighted to receive this recogition upon completing our first year of this three year grant“ said Matthew McNally, Program Director for Special Olympics PEI. “Last year we set out a big vision to improve the health education, experience and resources for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) and their family or caregivers. We are proud of our achievements in year one (2018) and look forward to building upon them in 2019.“
The vision of Special Olympics for its health program, made possible by the Golisano Foundation, is to create a world where people with intellectual disabilities have the same opportunities and access to health care as people without intellectual disabilities. The experience of Special Olympics in identifying and addressing the unmet health needs of people with intellectual disabilities has revealed the myriad of complex barriers to health faced by this population. Barriers to this vision include lack of access to quality health care, education, and resources.
About Special Olympics Prince Edward Island
Established in 1987, the PEI chapter of this international movement is dedicated to enriching the lives of Islanders with an intellectual disability through the transformative power and joy of sport. This grassroots movement reaches beyond the sphere of sport to empower individuals, change attitudes and build communities. From two-year-olds to mature adults, over 600 athletes with an intellectual disability are registered in Special Olympics PEI’s year-round programs across the province. They are supported by more than 120 volunteers. Special Olympics PEI wishes to acknowledge and thank Founding Partner, PEI Mutual Insurance Company.
For more information, visit www.sopei.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@Special OPEI).
MEDIA CONTACT:
Matthew McNally
Special Olympics PEI Program Director
902-368-8919
mmcnally@sopei.com
