APTA National - Special Olympics Event at NEXT

Update: This event will no longer be walking distance in Grant Park, it was changed to Washington Park in Chicago instead. The "L" train (green line) goes directly to Washington Park from the convention center, and this is about a 25-30 min trip, $2.50 each way for transportation. People may choose to ride the train individually to get to Washington Park by 11:00am, or leave as a group from the free Student Assembly Breakfast and General Membership Meeting Thursday morning, which ends at 10:00am (info here). If you do not attend this meeting but still want to leave with the group, please arrive to the meeting room by 10:00am to meet the group.

Please text Sara Scarbro, 847-220-2933 if you have questions about getting to the event beforehand or the day of.

The Student Assembly Board of Directors (SABoD) is working in conjunction with Special Olympics Illinois to host a FUNfitness screening during the NEXT conference in Chicago, Illinois. We are seeking volunteers to provide assistance during the Region D Softball Team & Individual Skills Competition on June 13th.

FUNfitness is the physical therapy discipline of Special Olympics Healthy Athletes ® that addresses the ongoing health needs of Special Olympics (SO) athletes. FUNfitness provides athletes the opportunity to be screened for flexibility of hamstring, calf, shoulder rotator and hip flexor muscles; functional strength of the abdominal and lower extremity muscles; and balance. During these screenings physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and physical therapist or physical therapist assistant students work with athletes and coaches to improve optimal function in sports training and competition, prevention of or reduced risk for injury and recommending exercises and other helpful strategies.

All instructions will be given in a follow-up email and on-site on the day of the event. This volunteer event is PT-specific and occurs in conjunction with the Softball Teams and Skills Competition but differs from a general volunteer's responsibilities.

If you are going to be at NEXT and are interested in volunteering please sign up and fill out the form.