Care That Meets People Where They Are: How One Special Olympics Volunteer Is Making an Impact, One Smile at a Time 

For Genevieve Schallmann, a dental hygienist based in Alberta, the path to volunteering with Special Olympics Canada wasn’t a leap—it was a natural extension of a career built on compassion, curiosity and a deep belief that everyone deserves dignified care. 

This summer, Genevieve will step into a new role as a Clinical Director with Special Olympics Canada’s Healthy Athletes program, through the Special Smiles discipline at the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games Medicine Hat 2026. There, she’ll help deliver dental screenings and education to hundreds of athletes from across the country—many of whom face significant barriers to accessing oral healthcare. 

But for Genevieve, this work isn’t just about teeth. It’s about trust. 

Genevieve has spent nearly two decades working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including at a dental clinic in Alberta which specifically cares for adults with disabilities. It’s work that demands not just clinical expertise, but understanding, adaptability and a willingness to meet people exactly where they are. 

That mindset—of partnership over procedure—has always shaped her practice. It’s also what drew her to Special Olympics. 

“When I saw the opportunity to volunteer, it just aligned with my values,” she explains. “It’s about giving back, but also using your skills in a way that really matters.”  

Through her work, Genevieve has seen firsthand the gaps in access to dental care—particularly for individuals with IDD. 

At her first Special Olympics experience during the 2024 National Winter Games in Calgary, one interaction stood out. An athlete and his father had travelled from a rural community in Newfoundland, where they said access to dental care was limited. The need for treatment was clear—but the resources weren’t. 

It’s a reality that reinforces the importance of programs like Special Smiles, which provide not only screenings and preventative care, but also education for both athletes and healthcare professionals. 

In her work, Genevieve often sees hesitation from professionals who aren’t sure how to approach care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

“There’s often some uncertainty around where to start,” she says. “But once you gain some experience, you realize it comes down to the same fundamentals you need in any patient interaction: taking the time to connect, explain the steps you’re taking, and ensuring the person feels safe and respected.” 

Her approach is straightforward: start small, build trust, and treat every individual with dignity. 

Sometimes that means swapping a dental chair for a regular one. Other times, it’s using a toothbrush instead of clinical tools, offering breaks, or simply taking the time to introduce herself and connect beforehand. 

“It doesn’t have to be complicated,” she says. “It just has to be human.”  

For Genevieve, the impact of this work is deeply personal. 

Over the years, many of her patients have become more than just appointments—they’ve become part of her life. She speaks about them with warmth and emotion, recalling long-term relationships built on trust, and the pride of helping someone achieve care they were once told wasn’t possible. 

“I’ve had people say, ‘No one has ever been able to do this before—to clean a patient’s teeth or do an assessment,’” she shares. “And I always think—there’s no reason for that. We just need to approach things differently.” 

That belief—that better outcomes are possible with the right approach—is what she carries into her volunteer work. 

As she prepares for the Special Olympics Canada Games in Medicine Hat in 2026, Genevieve is looking ahead to her role as Clinical Director—supporting volunteers, guiding care delivery, and shaping the experience for athletes as they move through the clinic. 

Beyond the Games, she hopes to share what she’s learned with others in the field, building confidence among healthcare professionals who may not know where to begin. 

It’s a perspective shaped over years of practice—one she continues to carry forward, one interaction at a time. 

And sometimes, it starts with something as simple as a smile.