1. Special Olympics Healthy Athletes

2. Objectives of Workshop
Why are we here today?
We are here today to:
Learn about Athlete Leadership
Review the SO Mission
Discuss Healthy Choices
Learn about Healthy Athlete screenings
Have participants understand why it is important to get screened for the issues involved
Make a plan to experience the screenings
Practice sharing this information with fellow athletes and helping as peer ambassadors at Games and events
Go over the goals and objectives and answers any questions that athletes may have.

3. Athlete Leadership Programs
ESSENTIAL:
To serve on a board of directors, athletes must have governance training; also to become an International Global Messenger, athlete must have Global Messenger training.
It is important to note that not all ALPs roles REQUIRE training. While workshops are available, they are seldom a requirement for serving in a leadership role.
Exception to that is the role of Coach or Sport Official.

4. Athlete Leadership Programs
Athlete Leaders (including ALPs) Definition  
An Athlete or Participant who serves in at least one Athlete Leadership role listed below: 
Athlete Leadership Examples:
Athletes as Volunteers (games or events)
Athletes as Coaches or Assistant Coaches
Athletes as Sport Officials
Athletes as Public Speakers (Global Messengers)
Athletes on Boards, Committees or Input Councils
Athletes assisting with Fund Raising
Athletes assisting with technology or other office work
Athletes serving as peer mentors or team captains
Athletes attending regional or national meeting about ID
Athlete Leadership Programs (ALPs) Athlete Definition
An Athlete Leadership Programs (ALPs) Athlete is defined as a person with an intellectual disability who participates in at least one Athlete Leadership Program and fulfills the definition of a Special Olympics Athlete.
Athlete Leadership Programs (ALPs) Participant Definition An Athlete Leadership Program Participant (ALPs) is defined as a person with an intellectual disability who participates in at least one Athlete Leadership Program and fulfills the definition of a Special Olympics Participant;
-OR-
An Athlete Leadership Program Participant (ALPs) is defined as a person with an intellectual disability who participates in at least one Athlete Leadership Program and is not training or competing as an athlete or participant.
Athlete Leadership Examples:
Athletes as Volunteers (games or events)
Athletes as Coaches or Assistant Coaches
Athletes as Sport Officials
Athletes as Public Speakers (Global Messengers)
Athletes on Boards, Committees or Input Councils
Athletes assisting with Fund Raising
Athletes assisting with technology or other office work
Athletes serving as peer mentors or team captains

5. The Mission of Special Olympics

6. The Mission of Special Olympics
The mission of Special Olympics is to
provide year-round sports training and
athletic competition in a variety of
Olympic-type sports for children and
adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
This slide is designed to introduce the Mission statement and highlight the fact that we can break it down to smaller, concepts by looking at individual words and what they mean.

7. Healthy Athletes Screenings
Special Olympics Healthy Athletes has several components. Go over the ones that will be covered today.

8. Healthy Athletes Screenings
Dental Health
Healthy Promotion
Sun Safety; Washing Hands; Strong Bones; Diet and Exercise
Visual Health - Opening Eyes
Fit Feet
Fun Fitness
Auditory (Hearing) Health

9. Special Smiles

10. Special Smiles
The health of your mouth mirrors the condition of your body as a whole.
When your mouth is healthy, chances are your overall health is good, too.
If you have poor oral health, you may have other health problems.
We need our teeth so we can eat, chew and digest our food.
Ask the athletes why it’s important to get checkups / screenings regarding oral health?
Why do we need our teeth?

11. Special Smiles At home, practice good oral hygiene:
Brush for two to three minutes, at least twice a day
Floss daily
Eat a healthy diet to provide the nutrients necessary (vitamins A and C, in particular)
Avoid cigarettes and smokeless tobacco
Schedule regular dental checkups

12. Special Smiles All About YOU!
Have Athletes draw a picture of themselves. Talk about how important a smile is! Talk about the importance of dental health and keeping our teeth and gums healthy. Ask athletes for other reasons why we need to take care of our teeth.

13. Special Smiles All About YOU!
Rock that Smile!
Develop a rap using your Rock that Smile theme or slogan.
Divide athletes into groups and have them come up with a slogan. Have them write a rap using their slogan.

14. Health Promotion

15. Health Promotion Sun Safety Messages
Overexposure to the sun’s rays damages skin and eyes
Prevent sun burns with healthy sun protection habits
Use sun screen at practice, events and whenever you are in the sun
Seek shade or cover up
Wear a hat & sunglasses
Ask athletes if they spend a lot of time in the sun. Discuss the importance of Sun Safety. How do they protect themselves from the sun?

16. Health Promotion Drinking water
Drink often and every day
Know where to get water at practices and events
Know when you need more water
If you are thirsty, you’ve waited too long
Talk about the need to stay hydrated! Sometimes we may feel sick and what we need is water, water, water.

17. A list of symptoms of not enough water Thirsty Headache Dizziness
Tired or weak feeling
Lack of energy
Grumpiness
Trouble concentrating
Nausea
Ask the Athletes if they have ever been dehydrated – not had enough to drink for the day. Talk about how serious this is and can be.

18. Health Promotion Germs
Ask athletes if they know how germs are spread?
What do germs do? What can happen?

19. Health Promotion Hand Washing
When we come into contact with germs we can become infected simply by touching our eyes, nose, or mouth.
Good hand washing is the first line of defense against the spread of many illnesses, from the common cold to more serious illnesses
Talk about washing hands for more than just a quick rinse Thoroughly washing hands is very important.

20. Glitter Hand Exercise Health Promotion Glitter Hands
Glitter works well to learn the importance of hand washing; the glitter represents germs. Sprinkle different colors of glitter on the hands of two or three athletes --- the different colors helps athletes see that they get germs from many different people throughout the day. Athletes should shake hands with each other, then, after a few minutes, examine their hands to see all the different colors of glitter on their hands.
The glitter also presents a challenge to wash off, just like regular germs. Start with a paper towel to wipe away the glitter. Athletes will notice that some of the glitter remains on their hands. Washing with cold water and no soap gets a few more of the glitter germs off. Washing with warm water and soap for a minute or so will yield the best results. Help athletes relate the activity to the importance of washing hands.

21. Health Promotion Hand Washing
When should you wash your hands?
Before, during, and after preparing food
Before eating food
Before and after caring for someone who is sick
Before and after treating a cut or wound
After using the toilet
After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
After touching garbage
Discuss with the Athletes the importance of washing their hands frequently.
You can brainstorm with the athletes first and then go over this list to add other important times and also support what they have shared.

22. Health Promotion Hand Washing
Teach hand-washing without running water?
No problem — use a basin!
Remember, you may need to modify information to meet the needs of the athletes who you are working with in other countries.

23. Health Promotion Strong Bones
You have 206 bones in your body.
Strong bones are important to be a Healthy Athlete and do your best at Special Olympics events.
It’s hard to tell if you have strong bones or not with your eyes
That’s why there is a screen for bone strength.
Have the athletes close their eyes and picture themselves without any bones. Ask the athletes if they really need their bones? What do bones help them do?
What wouldn’t they be able to do or not do if they didn’t have any bones?

24. Health Promotion Strong Bones
Four Steps for Strong Bones
Exercise
Eat 4 or more bone building things every day
DON’T Smoke
Take a vitamin with Calcium and vitamin D
Ask Athletes about some exercises that they do.
Have flip charts around the room and write the exercises that they share. Emphasize the need for what is called ‘weight bearing’ exercises.
Ask Athletes if they know the foods that are good for building strong bones.
Name some for them; Milk Group 1 cup of low - fat milk, 1 cup of low - fat yogurt; Vegetable Group - Spinach, bok choy, broccoli
pinto beans, V- 8 Juice with calcium added; Fruit Group - Fruit juices with calcium added; Meat Group - fish; Bread and Cereal Group
1 cup breakfast cereal with extra calcium and vitamin D. This will change depending upon region/country.

25. Health Promotion Healthy Food
Divide Athletes into Groups
You are responsible for deciding what athletes are going to eat at summer games/winter games.
Design a healthy menu for the athletes.
You need to have breakfast, lunch and dinner.
This activity gives athletes a chance to talk about healthy and not so healthy choices in regard to food. Give the groups about 15 minutes to decide.
Hand out the menu sheets and have athletes fill them out as a group. Assign one meal to each group.
Have each group present their menu for their meal and talk about it. Have all athletes vote for the most healthy breakfast.
Do this for each of the other meals.

26. Health Promotion Healthy Food
Breakfast
Menu

27. Health Promotion Healthy Food
Lunch
Menu

28. Health Promotion Healthy Food
Dinner/Supper
Menu

29. Health Promotion Healthy Food
What happens if we don’t eat healthy meals?
Talk briefly about gaining weight and how that can be very dangerous.
Talk briefly about salt, sugar, fat and how we need to eat these in moderation.
Let’s look at a healthy plate.

30. Health Promotion What’s on Our Plate/in our Bowl?
Wrap up this section by reinforcing what needs to be on our plates or in our bowls. Protein, fruits and vegetables, dairy, water, grains, etc. This may vary depending upon region, etc. Also, it is important to talk about portion control. Eating too much is not healthy or good for us.

31. Health Promotion Medical Release Form
Do you know what’s on your own Medical Release form. Do you understand what is on it?
Do you know what medications you are on?
Why is it important for you to know what medications you are taking and what they are for?
You may take medication that make it dangerous for you to be in the sun without protection
Have a medical form and talk about it.
See if athletes know any of the medications that they are taking.

32. Health Promotion Medical Release Form
Medication Name
Dosage
Date Prescribed
Times per Day
Why you need it
Don’t make this too technical. Think of a typical medication that many athletes are taking and talk about why it’s so important to know the details.
(Dave, you can fill this in more).

33. Opening Eyes
You could talk about the sponsor a bit. The Lions Club International has been a sponsor of Opening Eyes and provides glasses and goggles for Special Olympics Athletes

34. Look around the room and find one item that you like.
Opening Eyes
Look around the room and find one item that you like.
Ask a few of the athletes to describe what they saw. Have them give details and then tell why they picked the item.
Ask athletes what would change if they didn’t have their eyesight?
Emphasize the importance of sight and the need to protect our eyesight. Ask how we can do this – protect our eyesight.

35. Opening Eyes
An eye test can often pick up on eye diseases that can cause blindness which can be prevented.
It can also spot diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Talk about how prevention is important. The eye is the window into the body and we can see many indicators regarding our health.

36. Opening Eyes Provide for the vision and eye health needs of athletes
Each participating athlete completes a comprehensive screening that takes about 45 minutes
Athletes may require glasses, sunglasses or sport goggles
Ask athletes if they have been screened, if they wear glasses, goggles, etc. See if they have a story they can tell about before and after glasses, etc.
Also discuss the importance of wearing sunglasses to protect our eyes.

37. Fit Feet

38. Fit Feet Screen athletes’ feet for any problems Skin and nail problems
Check for proper shoes and socks
Say a little bit about how many Special Olympics Athletes do have problems with their feet. Help Athletes know that they (if they have problems) are not alone. It’s pretty common among athletes. Emphasize the importance of proper shoes and socks. You could bring a platform or high heel and try it on Imagine running in a high heel! It is very important to have the proper shoes for different occasions.

39. Fit Feet A Fit Feet screening takes approximately 10-15 minutes
After the screening, the clinicians will discuss the check up with the athletes, their coach, and a parent or sponsor
The athletes' will also receive their shoe size, any recommendations or referrals, and literature regarding common foot problems and foot care.

40. Fit Feet Healthy Tips Wash your feet with soap and water Dry your feet
Moisturize your feet
Keep your toe nails trimmed
Inspect your feet
Wear shoes or sandals to protect your feet
Wear clean socks
Wear the right shoe size (you should be able to wiggle your feet in your shoes)
This list can be fun. The need to moisturize – maybe talk about a pedicure, etc. if appropriate. Talk about the importance of healthy foot care.

41. FUN Fitness

42. Fun Fitness Do you play a sport?
Do you have to play a sport to get exercise?
How can you get exercise if you don’t play a sport?
If you think you’re not very good at a sport or it’s too hard for you, should you keep playing?
Why or why not?
Get the athletes to talk about how they move their body during the day. How does moving around
help your body? How does moving your body make you feel?

43. Stand up and touch your toes Swivel from side to side
Fun Fitness
Stand up and touch your toes Swivel from side to side
Get them up. Have the touch their toes, twist, move.
Ask them: What’s exercise? Do you get exercise? How? Does bending down and touching
your toes count as exercise? Why or why not?
How can you exercise when you’re by yourself?
How can you exercise when you have a
friend over?
What about when you have a bunch of friends over? Do you have
more fun when you are exercising alone or with friends? Why?

44. Fun Fitness Regular exercise keeps weight under control
Regular exercise builds strong bones
Exercising 3 times a week, 30 minutes can help keep us in shape
Think of one way that you could get more exercise.
Have athletes brainstorm ways that they can exercise and have fun.
Walk the dog; shoot basketball hoops; go for a run; swim;

45. Fun Fitness Physical Therapy
Provides free screenings to measure athletes' flexibility, strength, balance, and aerobic fitness
Provides instruction to Athletes about how to stretch, strengthen and improve balance and fitness.
Talk about the importance of balance. Maybe you could have them do the Stork Stand and see how well they balance.
Ask what sports require good balance.

46. Train
DK6L0N
Talk about TRAIN.
(Dave, fill in here for me )

47. Healthy Hearing

48. Healthy Hearing
Have you ever wondered to yourself “why is hearing so important”?
Hearing helps us to work, socialize, interact, communicate and relax.
Hearing also keeps us safe and alert to the world around us.
Whisper for a few seconds. Just talk very, very quietly. Ask Athletes how that was for them. How it felt not to be able to hear.
Ask athletes why hearing is so important.
Talk about how it helps us work, socialize, communicate, relax
Ask athletes how hearing helps keep us safe

49. Healthy Hearing
The purpose of Healthy Hearing Screening is to take care of our hearing.
Screen the hearing of athletes and notify athletes and their coaches if follow-up care is needed
Discuss how hearing is tested during the Healthy Athlete Screening

50. Getting Screened
How many of you have gone through Healthy Athlete screenings?
When?
Where?
See if you can get Athletes to talk about their screening experiences and also commit to getting screened when they have the opportunity .
Find out why Athletes haven’t been screened when they had the option to do so. Are they nervous about it. Talk about it.

51. PEER Health Ambassador
Talk about how they can share this information with their teammates and fellow athletes. See if they are interested in being escorts during Games or event when they are conducting Healthy Athletes screenings. Talk about how they might escort other athletes over to the Healthy Athletes venue.

52. Healthy Athletes What do you need to know about your own health?
How do you make sure you are staying healthy?
What can you do to help others around you to know about their health?
What are some things you can do to help other athletes know about and take care of their health?
This is a little review and checklist that athletes can talk about.
Have them brainstorm how to get other athletes interested in getting screened.

53. Healthy Athletes Screenings
Behavior
Yes / No
Smoking
Exercise 30 minutes 3 x a week or more
Use sunscreen
Wear a hat in the sun
Seek shade in the sun
Drink clean drinking water throughout the day
Eat balanced meals and healthy snacks
Get screenings done
A nice checklist to wrap-up what we’ve been talking about.

54. Healthy Athletes Volunteer
Role Play
Have a couple of athletes role play how they would talk about Healthy Athletes Screenings and take a friend over to the venue for screenings.
Set the stage for the athletes. Ask one of the athletes to talk about the screening process with another volunteer athlete. Pick just one screen for now. Ask the athlete which screening he/she is going to talk about. Go over the selling points together.
For example: If it’s for Vision, review the importance of the screen, etc. Then, have the athlete talk about the screening with the group.

55. Objectives of Workshop
Did we…?
Learn about Athlete Leadership
Review the SO Mission
Discuss Healthy Choices
Learn about Healthy Athlete screenings
Have participants understand why it is important to get screened for the issues involved.
Practice sharing this information with fellow athletes
Make a plan to experience the screenings
Go through each bullet point, asking the athletes if they understand and have learned something about each one.

56. Thank you. Now get out of this classroom and make sure you take care of yourself so you can continue to be a strong and healthy Athlete Leader