Celebrating 15,000 Health Screenings: Stories
Celebrating 15,000 Health Screenings with Healthy Athletes!
Join us in honoring a monumental milestone: More than 15,000 health screenings have been provided through the Healthy Athletes program. This initiative is more than just a number; it's a testament to the commitment to health and wellness for athletes with intellectual disabilities.
Healthy Athletes has transformed lives, providing essential screenings, education, and resources. Let's come together to celebrate the program's impact, share inspiring stories, and recognize the dedicated volunteers and healthcare professionals who make it possible. Continue reading below to discover 15 unique health stories to represent 15,000 Screening over the years.
CAITLIN BARAN
Centre County
For Special Olympics Pennsylvania athlete Caitlin Baran, being a reliable teammate is a precedent she sets for herself each season. But to truly be her best, on and off the court, Caitlin is focused on living her healthiest lifestyle.
Thanks to Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Healthy Athlete screenings, she can do just that.
Because of a Healthy Athletes screening she attended at the 2022 Summer Games, Healthy Hearing clinicians discovered that Caitlin’s hearing in her left ear was off. After the screening was over, clinicians recommended Caitlin follow up with an audiologist immediately.
Surprised and slightly worried about her new discovery from the screening, Caitlin visited an audiologist because of the clinicians’ and doctor’s referrals. By the end of June 2022, it was determined that Caitlin had moderate sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), which is a type of hearing loss that occurs when the inner ear, vestibulocochlear nerve, or brain's central processing centers are damaged.
“The audiologist said, ‘I’m not recommending you get hearing aids. You need hearing aids,’” Caitlin stated.
The journey Caitlin followed was simple, but lifechanging. From having her mom point out a screening she should check out, to receiving the SNHL diagnosis and accepting her first pair of hearing aids in January 2023, Caitlin is experiencing life completely differently.
“I wear [my hearing aids] during the day, so when I take them out at night, everything is muffled,” she said. “Since I’ve gotten them, I go for yearly screenings, and they can adjust them for me. I just had one recently, and they discovered I lost more hearing in my left ear. Overall, they’ve improved my hearing...”
From crowded restaurants to busy volleyball courts, Caitlin has the confidence to lead and support her teammates, family, friends, and coworkers.
“Healthy Athletes screenings help us be the best athlete we can be because without the screenings, some athletes might not have the best shoe ware or might not be very healthy, and that can really affect performance,” Caitlin said. “Some of these [disciplines] are just not what athletes think about. These screenings can be really, really beneficial. I just never thought to get my hearing checked.”
Because of Caitlin’s lived experience, she is an advocate to her fellow athletes to attend Healthy Athletes screenings because “you just never know.”
KIMBERLY SCHICKLEY
Columbia/Montour
Kimberly Schickley is an athlete who “loves to get her heart pumping.” Whether it’s the adrenaline from competition or a solid 1500-meter run, Special Olympics Pennsylvania has brought her passion for sports to life.
For 15 years, Kimberly has seized every Special Olympics opportunity she could get, and that includes Healthy Athletes.
“Healthy Athletes has impacted me because now I go to regular dentist visits... And I’ve become a healthier person overall,” she said. “At the screenings, that’s when a clinician examined my mouth and saw I had cavities. I was able to help me get them filled after that.”
Because of the place Healthy Athletes holds in Kimberly’s life, she’s used tips and tricks learned throughout the years to listen to her body. At this year’s Summer Games, Kimberly used Healthy Athletes to tackle her poor eyesight.
“I was quite excited to go to Opening Eyes... It’s overall helped me find my voice and speak up, unlike all these other times when doctors said my eyes were fine. I was just thinking, ‘But they’re not fine,’” she said. “Finally, this year, I spoke up and was able to say something. I felt empowered after finally being heard.”
Since Summer Games, Kimberly has received a brand-new pair of glasses from Special Olympics Pennsylvania. Now, she can read print from small distances, make out what’s in front of her while walking, and can see more clearly in general.
“What I’ve learned is I wanted to be healthier and more fit for me, not just Special Olympics, but everything outside,” Kimberly said. “Healthcare in general can sometimes be difficult to get access to and having these screenings in general helps point athletes in the right direction.”
STEVE NEELY
Optical Manager, Nittany Eye Associates
Steve Neely, an Optical Manager at Nittany Eye Associates, wasn’t sure what to expect from his first Opening Eyes/Healthy Athletes experience during Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s 2024 Summer Games. Turns out…
“It was probably the highlight of my year so far,” Neely said. “It blew me away, the level of enthusiasm and excitement that was generated. The athletes were extraordinary.”
Neely’s employer, Nittany Eye Associated, has been involved with Healthy Athletes for a long time, but Neely still wasn’t really sure what to expect from the event.’
“I really went into it blind. There were a lot of logistical things I needed to do on my end to get ready. A lot of equipment I needed to make sure made the trip. It was really fast-paced. There was a lot going on.”
Despite the accelerated pace, Neely will never forget the connections he made with so many different athletes on Penn State’s campus.
“Getting to pick out a pair of frames and knowing that some of these people had never gone through that before,” Neely said. “We had athletes who never had an eye exam before, never had a pair of glasses before. It was really extraordinary.”
Even when an athlete might have gotten a pair of glasses that didn’t quite work for them or a prescription mistake was made, Neely was quick to correct the error and ensure the athlete was back to competing at the top of their game.
“The bottom line for me is we respond to the needs,” Neely said. “It’s a no-brainer. Somebody says we have an athlete or patient that needs our help, we do what we do. We’re fortunate we’ve got the backing to do what we do. That’s absolutely what we’re encouraged to do so let’s make it right for the patient.”
Neely said even if there’s a time when he’s no longer associated with Nittany Eye Associates, he hopes to continue serving Healthy Athletes.
“What I witnessed was extraordinary,” he said. “It was an outpourng or professionalism, human kindness, love and all amazing things.”
DR. RALPH BELSTERLING
Healthy Hearing Clinician
Celebrating his 20th year volunteering with Special Olympics Pennsylvania, Healthy Hearing Clinical Director Dr. Ralph Belsterling is excited to see what the future holds for inclusive health.
Since 2004, Dr. Belsterling has volunteered with Healthy Hearing to be part of the impact this free service provides for athletes across the state. Audiology and the importance of equitable communication is something he’s very passionate about and is eager to help give back with Special Olympics Pennsylvania.
“...I started out as a Healthy Hearing volunteer. So, as an audiologist and having a little sister that had Down syndrome, I was very interested in working with the deaf community… and the initiative that Special Olympics was doing that included audiologists,” Dr. Belsterling said.
Following his involvement, Dr. Belsterling became a Clinical Director and was tasked with coordinating Healthy Hearing screenings for the larger state events. He’s teamed up with local universities and professionals in the field to solicit mentors and volunteers. He’s even traveled to a number of Special Olympics USA and World Games since becoming a Clinical Director.
“What inspires me [while volunteering with Special Olympics Pennsylvania] are the athletes themselves. Athletes, and to some extent, the professionals I work with and the students we mentor and train. It’s very rewarding to know that I’m sort of paying it forward and hopefully, that torch will be carried for many years later,” Dr. Belsterling said. “With the athletes, it’s an underserved, under-treated community and sometimes athletes have undetected disorders and I feel very, very confident and rewarded knowing that I’m able to provide those services for them in a caring respectful manner that they deserve.”
Dr. Belsterling continued to share his learnings since volunteering with Special Olympics Healthy Athletes.
“Communicatively, hearing loss impacts communication, social skills, quality of life and an individual’s health. Being able to detect problems and sometimes treating or remedying some issues on site is a wonderful thing. We’ve had individuals where we do screenings, they may come in with hearing aids, and sometimes there’s a problem with the hearing aids. We can do minor repairs or maintenance on those. Some events we were providing swim plugs, so at Summer Games, if swimmers were having issues, they could come on in where we were making and dispensing swim plugs on-site...
We even had a patient that we referred on quite a few years ago. She’s come back multiple times since, but she had a tumor. We detected some abnormalities, and asymmetrical hearing loss. She went in based on a recommendation for further logical follow up and they had to remove a tumor. She credits us for sort of ‘saving her life…’ Things like that are fortunately not common, but you’re very thankful if you’re able to help someone.”
After sharing some of his most powerful moments, Dr. Belsterling had one note to pass along.
“Share your skills with people who can really benefit from it and otherwise might not receive those services. As healthcare providers, we do need to give back. This is very worthwhile to continue.”
LISA BARBOUR
Delaware County
Lisa Barbour, a Special Olympics Pennsylvania athlete from Delaware County, is no stranger to being a leader. Whether on her soccer team, in speaking roles as an Athlete Leader, or as a member of SOPA’s Board of Directors, Lisa is always eager to set the tone for her peers and colleagues.
That’s why she’s so outspoken about the benefits of attending Healthy Athletes – which not only helped her get connected with a fulltime dentist after struggling for years to find a good provider – but also helped her acquire free glasses and rec specs to assist her on the playing field.
“Healthy Athletes really helped me out for sure, because I need glasses to see," Barbour said. "And I was going through dentist after dentist that wouldn't work on me because I shake. So just being able to have somebody look in there and let me know what's going on was very helpful.”
Thanks to timely and persistent follow-up from the Healthy Athletes team, Lisa was able to find a full-time dentist to care for her teeth and gums.
“Right now, I have a dentist," she said. "He's very good and he’s in Delaware County. They clean my teeth and they do the fillings and I feel comfortable that I'm not to the point where I'm shaking a lot because I'm nervous. Which is so important because you're only given one body in life.”
Lisa’s experience at Healthy Athletes is one she’d like to have during all of her doctor’s appointments.
“People there are very understanding of people with intellectual disabilities," Barbour said. "But it also doesn't feel like they talk down to us like some doctors do. And that's where I really appreciate it.
“Because I am an adult. I'm 46 years old. And I know my medical history. It's medical students that help out [at Healthy Athletes]. It’s amazing. Having that understanding is really, really powerful and emotional for me.”
DR. JASON BRESLER
Pediatric Dentist
In 2023, Dr. Jason Bresler celebrated his 20th anniversary volunteering for Special Olympics Pennsylvania Healthy Athletes, specifically Special Smiles.
Since the age of 13, Jason knew he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and go into dentistry. Because of that mission, Jason became a dental student in 2003 and started a club for people with intellectual disabilities. One of the outreaching goals his club had was to teach Special Olympics athletes how to take care of their teeth.
By 2006, Jason was leading the program and became a Clinical Director.
“Our goal is to show athletes that dental care and oral health is an important part of their overall health, and make it fun to realize that,” Jason said. “So, while we’re there, I always have music playing, and myself and the students, we try to make it as fun as possible... We want to make the not-so-fun-things stick.”
Jason also described that in more recent years, Healthy Athletes created a provider network that has greatly improved access to care. One of the biggest issues “the athlete community faces is there are not a lot of providers throughout the state that are comfortable treating people with [intellectual disabilities].”
One of Jason’s roles in Healthy Athletes is inviting dental students from Temple University and University of Pennsylvania to volunteer and conduct dental screenings themselves.
“I try not to limit the amount of students who come because the more experience and exposure they have to this community, the greater the chance that when they’re licensed dentists and providers of their own, they’re going to be willing to take in the people who are unfortunately cast aside,” Jason said.
There are many facets of Healthy Athletes that Jason is passionate about. One that he touched on was that many athletes don’t have a consistent continuity of care. Preventative care is equally as important as care when someone is sick or hurt. Healthy Athletes “gives athletes the gentle reminder and independence that they need to see their dentist or their eye doctor.”
Jason is also dedicated to coordinating care outside of Special Olympics for athletes who have dental infections or a broken tooth “to get them healthy.”
“The community itself with Special Olympics, it only takes one event to get you hooked,” Jason said. “I need to expose as many other dentists and dental students to this area as much as possible so we can bridge that access to care gap.”
NICOLE SENG
Lehigh County
Nicole Seng, 47, has been competing as a Special Olympics athlete since she was 8-years-old. In those 39 years, she was a standout in basketball but has since added bocce to her resume, where always looks forward to competing at Fall Festival at Villanova. There, the sights and sounds can be electric throughout the weekend. However, had she not attended Healthy Athletes, she might not have had as enjoyable of a sensory experience.
“I failed a hearing test when I went to Healthy Athletes at Fall Fest and they wanted me to get my hearing checked,” Seng said.
Because of that test, Seng followed up with her provider and discovered that she had very narrow ear canals and needs to her ear wax cleaned every two months.
“I’ve been going to the doctor and getting them to clean my ear wax out,” Seng said. “And my one ear, I don’t have much hearing in it and then my other ear is fine. But when they get cleaned out I can hear better.”
Nicole’s dad has hearing loss and wears hearing aids as well, but Nicole didn’t know about her own hearing issues until she got screened.
Additionally, Nicole got also got safety goggles for basketball that she used when she competes in Individual Skills.
“Go to Healthy Athletes,” Seng advised her fellow athletes. “Because you need to get your ears checked.”
DR. JENNI WATERS
Special Smiles Clinician
When Dr. Jenni Waters, a pediatric dentist and Special Smiles clinician for Special Olympics Pennsylvania was at a recent Healthy Athletes event, she encountered an athlete who was so fearful of having a dental screening she refused to open her mouth.
“I was able to talk with her, work through her fears and show her that we simply want to help. I gave her time, patience and showed compassion and that’s all she needed to trust me to open her mouth and let me help her,” Waters said.
It’s one of so many examples Waters recalls of a patient who was living with real dental pain that was able to get connected to a fulltime provider.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to help make a difference in the lives of athletes like her. It’s very rewarding to help athletes overcome their fears of dental care,” Waters said. “They come in and have broken teeth or large cavities or infections. They’re used to living with this pain because they just don’t have access to care.”
In addition to leading the Special Smiles team, Waters also coaches Softball and Floor Hockey in the Three Rivers Region.
“I’m very grateful for the unique opportunity to serve as a clinical director and a head coach. I can encourage exercise and healthy living habits, but I can also help promote dental health awareness through screenings and my role in Special Smiles,” Waters said. “It’ s great to see my team take responsibility for their own health and dental care.”
Throughout her career, Waters has made it a point to work with the special needs population and help educate as many future dentists as possible about how best to serve patients with disabilities.
“There seems to be a lack of providers that are comfortable treating the special needs population,” Waters said. “When students graduate, this is something they’re lacking. One of my passions is definitely teaching, so it’s very exciting to be able to help teach a rising dentist how to be comfortable in this setting.”
It’s part of what makes Healthy Athletes such an invaluable program. Not only are athletes getting, at times, much-needed advice and treatment plans, but future providers are learning new skills.
“I would say that the Healthy Athletes program means improving access to care. We’re able to screen athletes and teach them about oral hygiene. Sometimes we see athletes that haven’t seen a dentist in years. They have infections or pain. Most importantly, we’re able to find them a dental home.”
DR. JESSICA GLASS & DR. DENNIS GLASS
Optometrist & Physical Therapist
It all started 20 years ago for Healthy Athletes Opening Eyes clinician Dr. Jessica Glass.
After marrying physical therapist Dennis Glass, the couple moved out to Pittsburgh, PA. Her cousin lived in State College, was an optometrist, and volunteered every year at Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Summer Games. So, Jessica caught wind of the perfect chance to volunteer at her first event.
Fast forward to 2024, Colin, Jessica and Dennis’s son, was eager to become a Special Olympics Pennsylvania event volunteer in the Three Rivers Region.
The Glass family soon became a volunteering trio.
“There were several opportunities in the Pittsburgh area to go out and volunteer [with Special Olympics Pennsylvania]. It wasn’t just Colin who was doing it because we see the benefit in it as well. So, we started off, all three of us, volunteering at general events. We just loved it and springboarded from that,” Dennis said.
The Glass family’s Healthy Athletes journey kicked off after a golf tournament this spring. A volunteer told Dennis about how he and Jessica could provide their professional health services to athletes.
Following that conversation, Jessica became an Opening Eyes clinician and Dennis joined as a Healthy Athletes volunteer.
“When we were at Summer Games this year, I noticed that a lot of athletes have very unique vision issues that aren’t being addressed properly,” Jessica said. “From a vision standpoint, it’s amazing. They either get a pair of prescription glasses, sports goggles, or sunglasses.”
Dennis then added his thoughts about the screening experience.
“It’s really uplifting to see athletes get really excited to go through the screenings. We might not see that in our day-to-day professions, but they’re just really thankful,” Dennis said.
No matter what, it’s important to the Glass family to experience Special Olympics Pennsylvania to its fullest.
“This is the purest form of sport,” Dennis said.
Jessica and Dennis have volunteered for Healthy Athletes screenings at the 2024 Summer Games and the 2024 Special Olympics North America Softball Championship.
“The rewards you get out of volunteering are endless and the friendships you build, it teaches you a lot. You won’t feel anything like it,” Colin said.
MACKENZIE COLINEAR
University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine Student
It was Mackenzie Colinear’s first day at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine when she knew she wanted to be part of an organization bigger than herself.
“We had a club working with Special Olympics Pennsylvania and then especially Special Smiles. I knew this was the club I had my eyes on,” Mackenzie said.
Since joining the club four years ago, she’s had the privilege of leading the club more recently.
“Going from giving oral hygiene instruction all the way to being able to provide the screenings myself, I’ve enjoyed each piece of the experience,” she said. “The main mission, though, is to provide better access to care.”
Throughout her time with Healthy Athletes, Mackenzie has never taken for granted the opportunity to meet athletes from across the state. One of the goals the club focuses on is connecting athletes with providers in their area who are willing and able to accept them for treatment.
“Success is whenever we’re able to fully connect them with providers. On an individual scale, promoting long-term oral health is another success of instilling good practices,” Mackenzie said.
In addition to Healthy Athletes, Mackenzie has also become a general Special Olympics Pennsylvania event volunteer. During both volunteer experiences, although they’re different, she’s noticed both opportunities provide the same outcome: Athletes are more confident, and more empowered.
“These screenings give them more confidence, and whenever they’re healthy, they perform better. I just think it overall boosts quality of life,” Mackenzie said.
“I definitely hope to keep making that impact and those connections with providers. I even hope to be a provider for patients with special healthcare needs myself one day. I just think there’s so many people who could be doing more, and this is definitely a population that’s underserved.”
LEANNA KROGMANN
Franklin County
Leanna Krogmann first got involved with Special Olympics as a high schooler in Missouri. Since, Krogmann, now 41, has tried just about every sport the organization has to offer: basketball, bocce, bowling, golf, snowshoeing, softball, swimming and track & field, to name a few. She’s been to USA Games and World Games (in Athens, Greece). But through it all, she’s been a huge advocate for Healthy Athletes.
“I would always get excited about the glasses. I always had fun getting my eyes examined and getting to pick out new glasses,” Krogmann said. “The one time I did it and I got sunglasses. They made me prescription swim goggles for the first time and swimming was my big sport. I still have them upstairs.”
“It helped my performance a lot when I wore them. I said, ‘I can actually see the line in the bottom of the pool.’ I liked being able to see through the water, judge the turn and see the flags.”
Not only has Krogmann benefitted from new spectacles during her visits to Healthy Athletes, but she’s also gotten new insoles for her shoes after visiting Fit Feet and discovered that she has mild hearing loss after a visit to Healthy Hearing.
“I always seemed to enjoyed Fit Feet,” Krogmann said. “I had a lot of problems with my feet. I still have some problems. But I would always look forward to going to get new insoles. It helped me because I have really bad flat feet and it gave me arch support.
“Those visits led to me getting custom orthotics before my hip surgeries. It was just nice to have somebody evaluate my feet and help me,” Krogmann said.
If Krogmann had one piece of advice for her fellow athletes who are unsure whether or not to check out Healthy Athletes, it’d be the following:
“I would tell them it might be good for you,” she said. “It might have been a while since you’ve gone to a doctor, so it might help you. I always went to the doctor, but I still learned things that were helpful to my health.”
DR. ADAM ASSOIAN
Strong Minds Clinician
Strong Minds is an interactive learning activity focused on developing adaptive coping skills and also the newest Healthy Athletes discipline. Competition provides a natural opportunity to develop active strategies for maintaining emotional wellness under stress, such as thinking positive thoughts, releasing stress, and connecting with others. Dr. Adam Assoian is a Strong Minds clinician for Special Olympics Pennsylvania and was overjoyed when presented with the opportunity to lead the team.
“Being able to help the athletes strengthen their mental health and have them feel more comfortable and confident throughout the games is such an amazing experience,” Assoian said. “Whether it’s pregame nerves or post-game emotions, most athletes will experience strong emotions during the competition. Strong Minds can benefit athletes by giving them a place to learn realistic and useful coping skills to make handling their emotions a little bit easier.”
The owner of Ally Psych in Bucks County, Assoian helps individuals from all walks of life and backgrounds feel better about themselves and improve their mental health. Ally Psych also offers evaluations and support groups to those in need.
In the summer of 2024, Special Olympics Pennsylvania and Assoian partnered on a video project called “No Bullsh*t,” which allowed athletes to have an unfiltered conversation with Dr. Assoian, speaking about things that upset them regarding the treatment of people with disabilities.
Assoian hopes to continue changing hearts and minds in his role as Strong Minds clinician.
“What I love most about my job is being able to interact and get to know so many people. Helping those that are ready for change is incredibly rewarding.”
ALLISON GRAHAM
Lawrence County
Allison Graham has been a Special Olympics athlete for over two decades.
For 12 years, Allison competed with Special Olympics Texas before moving to Pennsylvania. For the last eight years, Allison has been a member of Team Lawrence in the Three Rivers Region.
But no matter where she’s competed or who she’s competed against, her top focus has always been, “How can I feel my best?”
In Allison’s day-to-day life, she needs glasses to correct her eyesight. To compete in her favorite sport, swimming, Allison is unable to wear her glasses, which results in headaches, blurry vision, and simply “not feeling her best.”
“I couldn’t see at meets and practices until I got prescription swim goggles at Healthy Athletes. Now, I can see when I swim and my times have improved a lot,” Allison said.
One of the biggest supporters Allison has had alongside her Healthy Athletes journey is her mother, Kim Graham.
“By having swim goggles, Allison isn’t as hesitant to swim. She isn’t afraid of hitting the ropes or running into the wall,” Kim said. “Healthy Athletes has been amazing in so many different aspects.”
Kim and her husband have even assisted some of Allison’s teammates through Healthy Athletes, making sure everyone received the proper referrals they needed.
“With Healthy Athletes, I think Special Olympics has done an amazing job with training volunteers on how to screen our athletes and how to use key words. I’ve seen so many success stories,” Kim said. “My hope is, in every state, when these clinicians are volunteering with Special Olympics, they take that experience and bring it into their profession.”
Since attending Healthy Athletes screenings, Allison and her teammates have received proper eyewear.
“My friend joined Special Olympics last year and when we competed at Penn State in June, she went to Healthy Athletes for the first time. She got her eyes checked and they told her she needed glasses. Now she has a pair of glasses,” Allison said.
Both Kim and Allison believe Special Olympics gives you a family, and Healthy Athletes is just one of the vessels that helps you take care of your family.
JD SCHULTE
Montgomery County
Montgomery County Long Distance Running/Walking athlete JD Schulte and his mom, Karen, couldn’t figure out what was going on. He started training with his walking/running group soon after the pandemic ended. But the when he competed at Fall Festival at Villanova University, JD came across the finish line and nearly collapsed.
Athletic trainers iced his shins and feet, but noticed they were swollen following JD’s 3000m race – something that hadn’t happened before.
“We saw that and we decided to go right to Healthy Athletes,” Karen said.
JD was wearing a size 9 Wide sneaker during the race, but he was measured as a 10 ½ Wide. It’s a massive difference for an athlete who so heavily depends on their feet to gain a competitive advantage.
“We got a new pair of sneakers and, you know, we haven't had a problem since,” Karen said. “It was the best thing to check things out because lots of athletes don't really communicate with you whether they're hurt or not. He must have been pushing his foot into the 9 Wides and they were getting really swollen.”
Following the visit to Healthy Athletes, the Schultes also visited a Brooks store and got a pair of professionally-measured of running shoes, which he wears along with a comfortable pair of Sketchers.
“It was a good thing that we did stop by,” Karen said. “It’s a great opportunity for athletes to attend and discover an issue they or their family might not have known about.”
YOU!
It's time to discover YOUR Healthy Athletes story
Won't you begin your Healthy Athletes journey with us and continue counting up from 15,000? Whether you're an athlete who might get screened for the first time or a healthcare provider who wants to get involved, follow this link to learn how you can get involved in making a difference in the health and wellness of everyone in the Special Olympics Pennsylvania family!
