"The story begins with crisis," said Timothy Shriver, CEO of Special Olympics International, before offering data that illustrates a severe lack of health care and prevalence of neglect among people with intellectual disabilities. The data is consistent around the world. Special Olympics International launched the Healthy Athletes Initiative in 1997 as a "moral response" to a lack of access to health care. Since then, more than 700,000 health screenings have been given and more than 50,000 Special Olympics athletes have received prescription glasses free of charge through Healthy Athletes- Opening Eyes (optometry). However, data shows that, although real progress had been made, the health and neglect disparity is still a critical issue that needs continued attention.
 
Stephen Corbin, D.D.S., M.P.H., told reporters that the screenings conducted at the 2009 World Winter Games held in Boise show a great need for continued effort. At the games, 25% of athletes failed the vision test and 15% failed the hearing test. 25% of athletes had obvious tooth decay, that is, decay that is visible without instruments or x-rays. "[This] consistent data reflects neglect," said Corbin. The problem is particularly prevalent with athletes from outside the United States.
 
Dr. John Kris, a Boise dentist who has extensive experience with Healthy Athletes-Special Smiles (dentistry), was one of the volunteer doctors who examined athlete patients at the games. "I saw puss coming from rotting teeth," said Dr. Kris, adding that at least 10% of athletes were in severe chronic pain. "We dentists are in awe of what is NOT being done."
 
To combat neglect and continue to improve athlete health, Special Olympics has announced a new, two-pronged initiative. Special Olympics plans to fight the problem through a new demographic study and a new information management system.
 
One of the difficulties that face efforts to improve athlete health is "an absence of information," stated Dr. James Rimmer of the University of Illinois. Dr. Rimmer is spearheading a new study that will follow individuals with intellectual disability (ID) for an extended period of time to determine the general health needs of the population. As Rimmer stated, "We need evidence in order to change policy." With the information they hope to garner, Special Olympics will be able to gain greater federal and international support in facing this challenge. In April, the research team will begin online recruiting for people with ID to join the study. A more detailed description of the study and a link for potential participants will be featured in April's news.

 
The second area of concern described to the press was a lack of follow through after diagnosis at Healthy Athletes. For that reason, at the 2009 World Winter Games, Special Olympics launched a new health information management system known as the Athletes Personal Health Record (APHR). Stanley Shepard, Chairman of Healthone Global, calls the APHR, "a breakthrough in analytics." Shepard explained that 10% of athletes at the 2009 World Winter Games need urgent dental care but, "We don't know if they will ever be referred."
 
The technology behind the APHR is relatively simple: Essentially, it is an uploadable health record that is self-contained within a portable, USB thumb drive. It will enable screeners, parents, athletes, and health professionals to update an athlete's health records and keep them in a central location. Special Olympics believes parents will benefit by no longer having to worry that their athlete has forgotten about a need to seek urgent care. They also believe care will be made more efficient because outside health professionals will no longer have to start at the diagnosis-stage to give treatment for problems discovered at Healthy Athlete screenings. "We doctors are good at our jobs but, can be really bad about sharing information," said Shepard. He believes this technology will increase the likelihood of meeting athlete's health care needs while eliminating many of the headaches. Special Olympics plans to make the Athletes Personal Health Record available world-wide by 2011.