Rosemary Collaboratory Project Research Launch - Accessing Health with an Intellectual Disability

Special Olympics launched the global health report, "Focusing on the Invisible," on September 17, 2025, as part of the Rosemary Collaboratory initiative, which addresses health inequities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The report reveals significant health system gaps, with findings from surveys of over 1,000 individuals with IDD and health workers in over 50 countries indicating issues like communication barriers, limited decision-making by individuals, insufficient health worker training, and a lack of data on IDD health. The initiative aims to drive policy and systemic change to improve health outcomes for people with IDD, building on Special Olympics' decades of health programming. 

What the Report Found: (Full Detailed Report HERE)

• Communication Gaps:

  Only 52% of people with IDD surveyed reported always understanding their healthcare provider.

• Decision-Making Limitations:

  Two-thirds of individuals with IDD surveyed stated they either don't make their own healthcare decisions or only do so sometimes.

• Training Needs:

  Nearly 75% of health workers believe professional development in disability healthcare is crucial for better services.

• Data Deficits:

  66% of health workers see improving data collection on IDD health as a vital step toward improved services

Special Olympics Ireland are launching a detailed report on the Research findings for Ireland on the 2nd of October at University College Dublin. You can register for the event below. 

Join us for From Access to Action: Shaping Healthcare in Ireland for People with Intellectual Disabilities 
 

What: A free, one-day national forum focused on improving healthcare access, experiences, and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities in Ireland. Open to athletes, family members, supporters, healthcare and social care staff, and decision-makers.
📅 When: Thursday, 2nd October | 9:30am – 3:30pm
📍 Where: The Pavilion, University of Limerick, Co. Clare, V94 F7XW
✅ Register here: https://forms.office.com/e/4tZ68A8fy4

This event is hosted by the Rosemary Collaboratory research consortium and proudly supported by Special Olympics Ireland. This event will also launch the detailed Irish research report, that fed into the recently published International Report by the Rosemary Collaboratory Research Consortium.  This will also mark the launch the next phase of impactful research in Ireland! 
We’re delighted to have the support and participation of @RCSI_Irl, @UL, @DCU, and @tcddublin in this important conversation.