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Special Olympics Presents on Ongoing Health Equity Projects at the 2024 American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting ‘Key Session’

A group of men and women in business casual clothing stand in a conference room in front of a backdrop reading ‘APHA’ and a Special Olympics branded presentation screen with the title ‘In Pursuit of Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD)-Inclusive Health Systems: Special Olympics International as a Champion of Health Equity.’ Presenter Annu stands in the middle of the group in a red Special Olympics pullover with a medal around his neck.
Special Olympics Health Team and health system partners participate in the APHA 2024 Annual Meeting.

The Special Olympics North America (SONA) Health Team, Special Olympics International (SOI), and Special Olympics state chapters attended the American Public Health Association’s (APHA) annual meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the end of October and presented as one of APHA’s Key Sessions . This session was titled “In Pursuit of Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD)-Inclusive Health Systems: Special Olympics International as a Champion of Health Equity.” Moderated by Tom Quade, Senior Director of Health Programs at SONA and APHA past president, the panel mapped four meaningful health equity projects in which Special Olympics is engaging with health system partners.

These projects include:

Among those who presented were Athlete Leader Annu Singleton from Special Olympics Maryland, Emma Richardson from Special Olympics Washington, Dr. Jae Kennedy from Washington State University, Jennifer Morris from National Care Advisors, Dr. Rebecca N. Weston from University of Maryland School of Nursing, and Shannon Rohn Deere from Leavitt Partners, LLC.

Annu Singleton stands at a podium wearing a red pullover and speaking into a microphone. Behind him, there is an APHA backdrop and a Special Olympics presentation showing two photos of Annu playing sports.
Special Olympics Maryland Athlete Leader Annu Singleton shares his experience during the APHA 2024 Key Session.

A highlight from the Key Session was Annu Singleton’s reflections about his rich experiences as a Special Olympics Maryland Athlete Leader and University of Maryland Standardized Patient. A standardized patient simulates medical scenarios in clinical and non-clinical settings for training purposes. Singleton shared how important it is for health systems to be inclusive and why having people with IDD involved in the development of training for healthcare providers, drafting of health policy, and advocacy for accessible care are necessary to reduce barriers.

Special Olympics’ presence at APHA extended beyond this Key Session, with additional presentations by SONA Senior Manager of Health, Charita Boseman and SOI Vice President, Health Research & Evaluation, Andrew Lincoln. Boseman presented the outcomes of the 6-week SONA Move virtual fitness challenge for adults with IDD. Lincoln represented the Research and Evaluation team to present on the types of multidisciplinary health screenings and services the Healthy Athletes program provides to individuals with IDD globally. Lincoln also presented on Project ALL STAR (Active Life and Longevity: Special Olympics Transforming Athlete Results), a collaboration among state chapters, researchers, athletes, and Special Olympics that aims to strengthen programs through better understanding of Special Olympics’ impact on athlete physical, socio-emotional, and mental health.

Charita Boseman wears a black suit and stands at a podium speaking into a microphone in a conference center. To the left of here, there is a presentation screen displaying bullet points and the Special Olympics logo
SONA Senior Manager of Health, Charita Boseman, presenting at the APHA 2024 Annual Meeting

Through these sessions, public health professionals and self-advocates were able to gain a better understanding of Special Olympics’ health programming and the value of considering and intentionally including people with IDD in the important work of advancing health equity.

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