At Promise, Not At Risk: A Literature Review of Special Olympics Impact on Early Childhood Health

Abstract

The 2024 Raising Canada report identifies limited physical activity and play as a significant threat to children’s well-being in Canada. This threat is even greater for children and youth with intellectual disabilities who face heightened health disparities compared to their peers without disabilities. Special Olympics, a global sports organization for individuals with intellectual disabilities, provides a valuable opportunity to address this threat by facilitating diverse physical activity experiences. This paper critically examines 17 empirical, peer-reviewed studies on the health outcomes of children and youth with intellectual disabilities who participate in Special Olympics. Through an analysis of the medical and social models of disability, as well as the theoretical framework of disabled children’s childhood studies, the review identifies key gaps, controversies, strengths, and limitations in the existing literature. It concludes by offering practical implications for families, educators, and practitioners to better support physical activity opportunities for this population, advocating for a fundamental shift in the application of children’s rights to promote greater social inclusion and more equitable approaches to health and well-being.