The nursing role in the Special Olympic program.

Special Olympics is an international program of physical fitness, recreation and sports for the handicapped of all ages and provides competition at all ability levels by grouping participants into divisions according to age, sex and performance ability. Special Olympics, a year-round program of physical training for mentally handicapped children and adults, contributes positively to the physical, social and psychological development of these individuals. Special Olympic participants must have a physical examination prior to the training activities or athletic competition to determine limitations and to prescribe special precautions to follow while participating. School nurse practitioners play an important role in seeing that physical examinations are completed prior to scheduled events in addition to identifying immediate health needs, counseling students, teachers and parents about specific problems, updating medical information and seeking appropriate referrals for the participants. School nurse practitioners' attendance at Special Olympics competition is vital to the success of the program.