Champions for Inclusive Health

Our History

In 2017, Special Olympics BC initiated the Champions for Inclusive Health Stakeholder Coalition, working with key partners who dedicated time and energy to this important issue.

The Champions for Inclusion Health initiative began with two summits held in the Lower Mainland in 2017 and 2018, followed by a key working meeting in January 2019, which brought together a wide range of people and agencies who impact the health of individuals with intellectual disabilities. The summits attracted the involvement of the very people who can together change the game for the too-often-forgotten population of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

The Champions for Inclusive Health partners are committed to ensuring that people with intellectual disabilities will not continue experiencing dramatically higher rates of preventable disease, chronic pain and suffering, and premature death. They agreed on a mission to end the harm and unequal conditions experienced by individuals with intellectual disabilities in B.C., and establish impactful resources, expertise, and best practices that can encourage other jurisdictions to follow B.C.’s lead.

In the January 2019 meeting, the diverse group of stakeholders met to establish a formal structure for the coalition and identify a path to create change. Out of this meeting, the group agreed to establish a backbone, a steering committee, and six working groups that met to identify key issues and develop actions for change in their respective fields. 

The working groups focused on achieving measurable change in the following fields: measurement, wellness, professional education and support, population support and resource access, public and private policy, and communications. 

In addition to the provincial engagement, Champions for Inclusive Health regional meetings were hosted in Kamloops, Kelowna, Prince George, and Victoria in order to engage significant regional stakeholders.

The teamwork achieved many early successes. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the work of the coalition to be placed on hiatus.

But research continues to build #InclusiveHealth, and Special Olympics BC is continuing communication between the stakeholders who believe in ending the devastating health inequality faced by people with intellectual disabilities in our province.

The list of agencies and stakeholders involved in this important work is long and influential in this field, including provincial government ministries, health authorities, self-advocates, non-governmental organizations, school boards, parks and recreation, municipal governments, research institutions and practitioners.

If you are active in health and passionate about helping people with intellectual disabilities, please contact health@specialolympics.bc.ca to join the Champions for Inclusive Health movement.

If one of your service providers is outstanding and really committed to ensuring quality care for individuals with intellectual disabilities, please share this info and encourage them to get involved.