Healthy Athletes – Part2

In which areas is reflected in your studies because health care needs?

Every second we have examined athletes for example, has a gum infection. Or: In the part program ” Better Vision ” is measured at the athletes the prescription. If it is determined that they need vision correction, you can choose a frame, and later they were given free her glasses. 50 percent of those who participated in the program since 2004, must get new glasses because they were either not supplied or false. Sometimes we have cases here had that were supplied incorrectly by four or five diopters. And no one has noticed!

How do you change that?

It is extremely important that we empower people with intellectual disabilities to assess their health and even to inform this also. It is often that the complaints are not consciously perceived, or that the offers that are available from the medical side, are not known.


So is next to the treatment needs also a great need for counseling?

In any case! And above all, an advice, in plain language the people turning to. The advice must be able to respond to the specific needs. Therefore, we have also trained our volunteers that effect. There are, for example in the usual training for physicians and dentists no obligatory content of teaching, teach you how to deal with people with intellectual disabilities and their specific needs.

Does that mean you tell the volunteers and doctors, how to express yourself in simple language?

Right. We have just published the first information materials in easy to understand language. These can be downloaded from our website for free. So far there is information about foot care, for HГ¶rkontrolle and to brush your teeth. Plain Language also plays in our project ” self-determination healthier “, which continues to run in 2014, an important role.


From advocates of inclusion is sometimes criticized that events such as the Paralympics or Special Olympics contradict the inclusion thought. How do you see that?

I am a big fan of inclusion. The Special Olympics events so many people come together with and without disabilities, that I can already speak of an inclusive event. Also, the training of the athletes ahead of the competition quite often runs included. Based on my field, the health sector, but I believe it with intellectual disabilities have special needs for people we must also take account of special offers.

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