AV News: Opening Eyes with the Special Olympics

We like to talk about seeing the world from a new perspective. But what if you couldn’t see the world at all? During our time with Special Olympics Minnesota, we learned about a program that although has little to do with drones, had a big impact on all of us.

“I saw a young lady come in, she was I wanna say maybe 9 or 10 and I realized as soon as she came in that she couldn’t see. She couldn’t see at all. I just happened to be taking a break when she came out with glasses about an hour later and I almost started crying because she came out and she said, ‘wow look at the trees.’ She’d never seen traffic, or a leaf on a tree, or anything like that.”
Jim has been with Special Olympics Healthy Athletes for 13 years because of that moment that took place at the very first eye clinic he volunteered with. Special Olympics Health Athletes is a world-wide program that offers free health services and information to more than 1.6 million athletes in over 130 countries. Special Olympics - Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes is just one of the 7 disciplines of Healthy Athletes. Others include, Fit Feet or podiatry, Healthy Hearing or audiology, and Special Smiles which focuses on dentistry. The Opening Eyes tent, where Jim volunteers saw about 500 athletes the weekend we were there for Special Olympics Minnesota. With that many exams, did everyone really need glasses?
“People with special needs or intellectual disabilities have a much higher incidence of eye issues and needing glasses so actually we do provide a lot of glasses compared to the general public. I think last year we provided about 300 pairs of glasses.”
Those involved with Healthy Athletes told us Special Olympics Athletes are 40% more likely to have a preventable secondary health concern. And, families have a hard time finding health care providers willing and able to help people with intellectual disabilities.
“The other thing with the athletes is is there is a little more safety or friendliness in numbers and a lot of them are more comfortable doing this when they are around friends and other athletes.”
At the Opening Eyes clinic, athletes are asked about their health history, given an eye exam, and if needed, glasses were cut for them and handed out that day.
To find out more or see how you can get involved, visit specialolympics.org/healthy_athletes.

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