Program areas at Special Olympics Iowa
Games and competition provides olympic style training and competition in twenty-three different sports throught the year for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Healthy athletes is a program designed to help Special Olympics athletes improve their health and fitness. This can lead to a better sports experience and improved well-being. Athletes receive a variety of health services through clinics conducted in welcoming environments at Special Olympics competitions.
Unified champion schools brings together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities through education, sports, and youth leadership to provide them with the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to create and sustain school communities that promote acceptance and respect.
Young athletes play days are an introduction to Special Olympics. Children participate in eleven different activities, representing eleven different sports offered by Special Olympics. The program helps increase the young children's strength and coordination for sports while introducing them to group play, cooperation, and awareness of rules.motor activity training introduce team sports adapted for the severe and profound as well as those who are unable to participate in the traditional Special Olympics programs. Activities, such as bocce, ramp bowling, balloon volleyball, team basketball, basketball shoot, batting, ball darts, golf, shot put, race walk, and wall pass are modified to allow youth and adults to participate in a team or as an individual. Volunteers and switch activated equipment are on site to assist the athletes as they participate in each event.athlete leadership provides an education program to train individuals with intellectual disabilities in literacy, leadership, and speaking skills.