Special Olympics represents the idea that everyone deserves to fully participate in society with equal opportunity for success and living fulfilling lives. This is an incredibly powerful idea. An idea that demands public policy meet the needs of the most marginalized and underserved. An idea that reimagines how we deliver quality health care and education. And, an idea that forged a critical partnership between Special Olympics and lawmakers in Washington D.C.

For over a decade, Special Olympics has been a valuable community partner to the federal government. Each year, the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention appropriate funding for Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools and Healthy Athlete Programs. These programs directly benefit people with intellectual disabilities (ID) and the results have been transformational.

ASK YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO SUPPORT SPECIAL OLYMPICS🥇

This year, Congress has the opportunity to make the largest investment the partnership has seen to date. This commitment is critical to build healthier and more accepting communities for people with ID.

Building Healthier Communities.

People with intellectual disabilities (ID) have complex medical needs, yet lack access to quality health care. Serious medical conditions go undiagnosed and untreated, leading to far worse health outcomes than that of the general population; higher rates of cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes, lower rates of preventative care, early intervention, and overall well-being. As a result, people with ID have a life expectancy 20 years less than the national average. Addressing these health disparities is an urgent matter — Special Olympics Healthy Athlete Programs take on these challenges and aim to eliminate such inequities.

Special Olympics delivers on this promise by providing comprehensive health screenings, inclusive fitness and nutrition programs and robust opportunities for youth development. Screenings lead to timely follow-up care and the development of specialized treatment plans to better manage medical conditions. To date, over 1 million screenings have been given to people with ID through Special Olympics. Fitness and nutrition programs encourage physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices. Program data shows that incidents of developing chronic health conditions sharply reduce for people with ID when they regularly exercise and make smarter food and beverage choices. Early childhood programs help families chart a healthier, more inclusive future for their children. Research shows that youth participation in Special Olympics programming lowers rates of depression by 49%.

ASK YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO SUPPORT SPECIAL OLYMPICS🥇

The results are clear: when people with ID have equal health care opportunities — health care which squarely meets their needs — their participation across society increases, they are more likely to pursue higher levels of education, find employment and develop meaningful social relationships.

Strengthening our Schools.

Schools have to be prepared to support every student. Students with intellectual disabilities (ID) are three times more likely to be bullied than their peers. This is a serious issue. Bullying negatively impacts personal development, increases stress and anxiety, leads to social isolation and lowers individual self-esteem. The strongest schools create environments where all students feel like they belong and are connected to the community.

Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools make our schools stronger by bringing together people with and without ID. Together in sports. Together as a school. And, together as leaders in the community. Using sports as a way to drive peer-to-peer social inclusion, Unified Champion Schools programming pairs together people with and without ID to compete on the field of play where they learn the values of teamwork and collaboration and develop respect and empathy for one another. In the classroom, unified lesson plans equip students with the tools, training and attitude to bring about a school-wide culture which celebrates our differences and diverse backgrounds. Schools that have established Special Olympics unified programming (8,000+ across the country) have seen a reduction in bullying, negative stereotypes, and social isolation, while seeing higher levels of respect, empathy and school connectedness.

ASK YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO SUPPORT SPECIAL OLYMPICS🥇

Everyone is Included.

There is a lot of critical work ahead to better serve people with intellectual disabilities. The work is in the classrooms, across the health care system and in the halls of Congress. It will require persistence, patience and a good amount of perseverance, but it will be worth it because no matter who you are or where you are from, you deserve to be included — everyone does!

Mo Khan works at Special Olympics Illinois. He is an attorney and advocate for public policy that uplifts underserved populations.

Expanding job opportunities for people with disabilities

National Disability Employment Awareness Month serves to celebrate the many contributions people with disabilities make to the workforce. More importantly, in my view, it is a reminder that we must take action to ensure people with disabilities are able to participate in the workforce with equal opportunities for employment and success. And that’s what we did at Special Olympics Illinois — we took action.

On October 28, Amazon Fresh Stores across Chicago partnered with Special Olympics Illinois to host a Job Shadow Day for people with intellectual disabilities (Special Olympics athletes) seeking employment.

Here’s why it’s important. These types of initiatives expand access to job opportunities for people with disabilities. They build a more diverse workforce and more inclusive workplaces. They reduce deeply-seated inequities and discrimination in hiring practices. And, most of all, it’s the right thing to do.

On the Job with Amazon Fresh Store Associates.

Joining Fresh Store associates on the morning shift, Special Olympics athletes received hands-on training in easy check out technologies, helped prepare delivery orders, maintained produce and inventory, worked in the kitchen and greeted customers throughout the store. The athletes were empowered to learn all the job roles while the associates evaluated employment readiness and job placement options. It was a very successful process resulting in multiple job offers.

Having a Disability is a Significant Barrier to Securing Employment.

People with disabilities should be able to participate in the workforce with equal opportunities for employment and success. Yet, across the country, the job market discriminates against them. Workers with disabilities are far less likely to be employed. Last week the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the current unemployment rate for people with disabilities is more than double that of people without disabilities; 7.4% compared to 3.2%.

This is not a new problem. Historically, the job market has been anything but open and inclusive.

Over the last decade, the unemployment rate, on average, for people with disabilities has remained twice as high as the rate for people without (10.5% vs. 5.3%). These disparities are indefensible. They devalue the important role people with disabilities play in strengthening our economy and workplaces. We fail to have an equitable job market when such a large number of Americans are systemically excluded from opportunity. We must do better. We can do better.

Inclusive Hiring Practices Expand Job Opportunities.

Targeted hiring and training programs directly increase job opportunities for workers with disabilities. This requires employers to take a proactive, inclusion-focused approach to recruiting. Collaborating with community-based organizations is a critical pathway to help employers identify people with disabilities who are looking for work. Through their partnership with Special Olympics Illinois, Amazon found a partner similarly committed to workforce diversity and who was able to introduce them to intellectually-disabled people looking for work. The Amazon Job Shadow Day is a clear example of how corporate community engagement can push forward a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

Disability-Inclusive Workplaces Benefit Employers.

The make-up of a company’s workforce is a direct reflection of the ideals they stand for. Employers committed to diverse and inclusive workplaces hire employees of all backgrounds and abilities. When employers equally value every employee’s perspective and recognize their unique contributions they foster an environment with higher employee retention. Workers are more likely to stay in a workplace where they feel seen and respected.

Disability inclusion also enhances a company’s financial performance. Research shows that disability-inclusive employers are, on average, twice as likely to have higher total shareholder return than their peers, 28% higher revenue and 30% higher profit margins.

A More Inclusive Future.

At the core of our community partnership, Amazon and Special Olympics Illinois are committed to creating a more inclusive future for people with intellectual disabilities. A shared vision in which people with and without disabilities throughout Chicago are unified. Where they work together. Learn together. Progress together. Building a workforce that embraces workers with disabilities is a strong step in that direction.

Mo Khan is an Executive at Special Olympics Illinois. He is a civil rights attorney and advocate for equitable public policy that uplifts underserved populations.