Special Olympics Colorado

Young Athletes (YA) gives children with intellectual disabilities (ID) a chance to learn, grow and have fun with typically developing peers. During a child's formative years we have the opportunity to impact lifelong success. YA provides early gross motor and social developmental opportunities for children ages 2-7, with and without ID, utilizing guided and age appropriate sports activities.

Children with an intellectual disabilities have very limited access to motor activity programs, including organized play and sports skill development. The program works to advance the development of children with ID who typically fall behind their peers. Targeted skills include walking, running, balancing, jumping, catching and throwing. For typically developing youth, YA provides similar opportunities to enhance sports and social skills while promoting inclusion and acceptance.

UCS is an internationally recognized program that empowers youth, with and without intellectual disabilities (ID), to be leaders of change, through play and community involvement. UCS is currently implemented in more than 450 Colorado schools and universities, impacting more than 400,000 students.

UCS allows Special Olympics Colorado and schools to work together to promote inclusion efforts at every level of the school environment. No other program offers a combination of activities that equip young people with tools and training to create sport, classroom and community experiences that lead to a reduction in bullying and ultimately a more positive school community.

Special Olympics Colorado’s (SOCO) inclusive health programming focuses on improving the physical and social-emotional well-being of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) by broadening access and quality of care in health systems across the state.

Made up of Healthy Athletes, Fitness and wellness, Special Olympics Colorado's Fitness Captain program and more, Inclusive Health is changing the way health systems interact with people with intellectual disabilities.

By listening to athletes at events and conducting research over many years, Special Olympics became aware of the lack of quality health care for people with intellectual disabilities - people with intellectual disabilities have a 40 percent greater risk for health issues, and health care professionals are not trained in or experienced with caring for people with intellectual disabilities. The SOCO team conducts 8 screenings for athletes at competitions throughout the state at different points during the year.