Expand Your Impact: Strategies to Engage People With Intellectual Disabilities (ID) in Fitness Description

Special Olympics athletes are motivated to improve their fitness, with 74% of individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) attending gyms regularly. In 2022, over 400,000 Special Olympics athletes participated globally. However, barriers such as limited access and social support persist. This session will explore effective fitness models and resources for engaging people with ID, including case studies of successful partnerships between Special Olympics Programs and gyms. Attendees will learn how to assess endurance, strength, flexibility, and balance across mobility levels, gaining strategies to incorporate inclusive fitness programming and engage individuals with ID in gym settings.