"The project not only acts as a catalyst to promote healthy active lifestyles to thousands of athletes across the province, but it also acts as a bridge to help attract new athletes to the movement" Glenn MacDonell, President & CEO, Special Olympics Ontario | 
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“Be pahl proud!” An athlete shows off her school’s pahl poster at a healthy living event. | The Project
Just like every Canadian, people with intellectual disabilities (ID) need to take action to become healthier and more physically fit. However, this population often experiences a number of barriers in accessing mainstream health services and supports. “New studies highlight poor overall health of people with intellectual disabilities and serious gaps in health care training and availability,” as Special Olympics International (2005) discovered in two commissioned research studies related to health and health care of individuals with ID. With funding support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Special Olympics Ontario (SOO) is focusing on The pahl Project to promote healthy active living to persons with ID. Over three years, pahl aims to enhance the ability of athletes to train and compete, minimize healthcare disparities and empower people with ID to invest in their overall health. In order to accomplish these goals, the project is focused on four main elements which include: health promotion, the Healthy Athletes Program, school and youth engagement and community outreach. |
| Health Promotion
Part of The pahl Project is to review the health promotion resources available to people with ID. The review is focused on determining what resources currently exist that could benefit Special Olympics athletes, volunteers, educators, families and caregivers. In addition, the review will uncover which resources could be retooled and tailored in the future to meet the needs of this population. To increase accessibility and awareness of these resources, SOO recently unrolled The pahl Guide, a physical activity healthy living guide for people with ID. The guide offers useful tips and resources about nutrition, fitness and wellness. The guide is currently in development and additional content and materials are added on an ongoing basis. |
| Healthy Athletes
Since officially launching in 1997 as a Special Olympics program, Healthy Athletes has grown to provide seven different health screenings with the goal to improve athletes’ ability to train and compete in Special Olympics. Through a global team of health-care volunteers, Healthy Athletes works to improve access and health care for Special Olympics athletes; make referrals to local health practitioners when appropriate; train health care professionals and students about the needs and care of people with intellectual disabilities; collect, analyze and disseminate data on the health status and needs of people with intellectual disabilities; and advocate for improved health policies and programs for people with ID. |
 | School & Youth
One of the primary school and youth initiatives will focus on running a series of pahl days. The pahl days will educate students about healthy living and physical activity as well as provide students with ID exposure into what Special Olympics is all about. The pahl days will work with the Provincial Games calendar to build awareness of SOO school programs. |
 | Community Outreach
SOO recognizes it is important to form partnerships with local community health and fitness groups, organizations and professionals in order to maximize knowledge and awareness when delivering the key elements of the project. In addition, SOO will host several healthy living community forums to connect key stakeholders with the outreach initiatives in order to increase awareness and promotion of the importance of physical activity for persons with ID. |
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For more information about pahl or to get involved with the project Toll Free: 1 (888) 333-5515
Email: janetm@specialolympicsontario.com |
