WASHINGTON, D.C. Special Olympics athletes, organization leaders, Unified Sports® partners, and family members from across the United States and the District of Columbia will converge on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., from February 3-5, 2025 for the annual Special Olympics “Capitol Hill Day.” This flagship event, organized by Special Olympics, includes more than 250 participants and volunteers from 48 states and the District of Columbia.
Special Olympics athletes will lead hundreds of face-to-face meetings with Members of Congress in both the House and Senate, urging their elected officials to partner with them to support inclusive education and health initiatives for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® programming is in more than 10,000 schools across the United States, with a goal of being in 20,000 schools by 2030. Additionally, Special Olympics is addressing health disparities for people with ID by providing free health screenings and training healthcare professionals to deliver follow-up care where and when it’s needed.
Special Olympics athletes serving as self-advocates will share their personal stories with lawmakers and educate them about the stigma faced by people with ID. They will also highlight how Special Olympics programming in sports, health, and education can reduce discrimination, improve lives, and promote acceptance. Advocates will request ongoing support for Special Olympics’ evidence-based programming that benefits all Americans, regardless of ability.
Meet Special Olympics Virginia's Delegation:
Kareem Poindexter
Lenny Wedge
Veronica Jennings
David Thomason
Mariela Monterrosa Rodriguez
“During our visits on Capitol Hill, conversations with our Senators and Representatives give our athletes and program leaders an unparalleled opportunity to share the Special Olympics Virginia story, their personal involvement with that story, and how our work together with our legislators can impact all Virginians and communities across the commonwealth. We look forward to building continued partnerships for Special Olympics Virginia’s inclusive health and education initiatives, which lead to such important changes for those with and those without disabilities while making Virginia—and Virginians--better every day.”
Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® programming trains and mobilizes youth leaders and educators to foster inclusive school environments by integrating students with ID in sports teams (Special Olympics Unified Sports® programming), clubs, and leadership roles. With over 21 million inclusive experiences taking place in schools across the United States, this programming reduces stigma and bullying while increasing acceptance for people of all abilities.
Special Olympics Health programming works towards equitable access to quality health promotion and services for people with intellectual disabilities, responding to a clear need for a world where people with intellectual disabilities have every option to be healthy. Inclusive health means people with intellectual disabilities have access to high quality affordable health care services and are empowered to take an active role in making their health and life choices.
Since 2016, Special Olympics has trained over 150,000 healthcare professionals and students and completed over 250,000 health screenings. By 2030, Special Olympics aims to serve 500,000 athletes in the United States through health programming.
The results are striking:
- Special Olympics athletes had a 31% lower rate of health care visits compared to people with ID who do not participate in Special Olympics.
- Young adults with intellectual disabilities who participate in Special Olympics are half as likely to be diagnosed with depression as those who do not participate and 15% less likely to be diagnosed with diabetes.
- Special Olympics athletes who participate in Special Olympics fitness programming experience improved blood pressure, with those at high risk for cardiovascular disease seeing the greatest improvement.
- Within two months of participation, children participating in Young Athletes programming show remarkable improvement in their motor skills.
In addition to federal U.S. government funding, Special Olympics also receives funds from private foundations, corporations, and individuals to support these initiatives. Public and private support is critical for Special Olympics to offer education and health programming at no cost to participants.