Clinical Considerations and Resources for Youth Athletes with Intellectual Disability: a Review with a Focus on Special Olympics International

Purpose of Review This review provides an overview of sports participation by youth athletes with intellectual disability (ID), focusing on activities offered by Special Olympics International (SOI). The review also describes SOI’s health initiatives, as awareness of the sports and health activities of SOI is critical for clinicians who serve youth with ID. SOI is the largest global public health organization for people with ID. Recent Findings 2018 is the 50th Anniversary of SOI. For 50 years, SOI has been using the power of sport to break down barriers both on and off the field. From 2016 to 2020, SOI is focusing on Inclusive Health: the inclusion of people with ID in mainstream health policies and laws, programming, services, training programs, research, and funding streams (Special Olympics International 2018 ). This article summarizes recent SOI efforts in both sports competition and health initiatives. Data collected from SOI’s Healthy Athletes Initiative revealed obesity in 31.5% of youth with ID. Data also demonstrated concerns with flexibility in 71.3% of athletes and concerns with muscle strength in 56.5% of athletes. Results from medical coverage of the 2009 Special Olympics Great Britain Summer Games revealed musculoskeletal and skin concerns as the primary reasons for on-site sports coverage medical consultation. Summary Clinicians caring for youth with ID should be aware of the sport opportunities for this population and the health initiatives of SOI. Future research is needed on applying sports' medicine principles to youth athletes with ID. By including this article alongside an article on youth adaptive sports, the field of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine is demonstrating its commitment to all youth athletes.