Program

9:30–9:55 AM | Opening & welcome messages
Current situation regarding the health of people with intellectual disabilities in Switzerland (MmkB).

9:55–10:40 AM | Panel Talk
With perspectives from Special Olympics Health experts, an athlete representative, and examples from clinical practice.

Contributors: Annemarie Hill, Chief Health Operations, Special Olympics Switzerland, Anjela Jenkins, Senior Director, Global Inclusive Health Advocacy, Special Olympics, Pearl Lüthy, athlete, Dr. Karin Lindauer, gynecologist, senior attending physician, Women’s Clinic | Zollikerberg Hospital

10:40–11:00 AM | Break & Transition to Workshops

11:00 AM–12:15 PM | Workshops (4 parallel workshops)
Choose a workshop – from lived-experience perspectives and evidence-based medical practice to systemic collaboration and concrete next steps.
→ Details on the Workshops page

12:15–1:30 PM | Lunch

1:30–1:50 PM | Workshop Results

2:00–2:45 PM | Expert keynote
The importance of medical progress for the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.

Dr. Thomas Dorn, Head Physician of Neurology, Lucerne Rehabilitation Clinic, and Vice President of the Swiss Society for Health with Intellectual Disability (SSHID)

2:45–3:15 PM | Networking Break

3:20–4:00 PM | World Café
Four tables, four topics, rotations every 10 minutes. Each person visits two tables.

Tables:

• Clinic & Communication
• Access & Barriers
• System Collaboration
• Role of people with intellectual disabilities & Health Messengers

4:05–4:25 PM | Creative Wrap-up
Graphic Recording by Sketchy Solutions.

4:30–4:50 PM | Closing remarks

Annemarie Hill, Chief Health Operations, Special Olympics International

from 5:00 PM | Reception

The workshops combine perspective, evidence, systemic collaboration, and implementation.

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Workshop 1 – “Health from my perspective”

Living with intellectual disabilities in the healthcare system
Moderated by people with intellectual disabilities and the Züriwerk institution.

Goal
This workshop gives people with intellectual disabilities an active voice and highlights how they experience doctor visits, hospital stays, and medical communication in everyday life.

Content
People with intellectual disabilities report on their experiences in the healthcare system, accompanied by specialists. Key questions are discussed in small groups: What is difficult? What helps? What do those affected want from doctors and institutions?

Benefit
Participants gain a direct, authentic insight into the perspective of those affected and identify concrete starting points for how communication and processes in everyday medical practice can be improved.

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Workshop 2 – Evidence-based inclusion

Medical practice for people with intellectual disabilities
Dr. Beatrice von Bonin, Senior Physician BESAS, Bern Hospital Center for Geriatric Medicine Siloah;
Mirjam Müller, Nurse Practitioner BESAS residential care medical practice

Goal
Providing current, practice-relevant knowledge on the medical care of people with intellectual disabilities.

Content
Based on current studies, common comorbidities, diagnostic challenges, and typical sources of error are presented. Using real case studies, participants develop concrete recommendations for action in daily practice.

Benefits
Participants receive concrete medical recommendations, checklists, and decision-making tools that can be applied directly in everyday clinical practice.

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Workshop 3 – Getting the System Moving (D/E)

Roles, Responsibility and Collaboration in Healthcare
Facilitated by:
Anjela Jenkins Senior Director, Global Inclusive Health Advocacy at Special Olympics;
Romain Fardel Head of Health, Special Olympics Switzerland

Goal
Key stakeholders from Special Olympics, the healthcare sector, and institutions develop joint strategies for more inclusive healthcare.

Content
Representatives from Special Olympics Switzerland, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia, and Special Olympics International discuss roles, responsibilities, and cooperation models with experts from medicine and politics. The goal is to identify synergies and highlight structural levers. The workshop is offered in German and English.

Benefit
Participants are provided with an overview of existing initiatives as well as a shared perspective on future collaboration and systemic improvements.

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Workshop 4 – Practice in concrete terms

Strengthening healthcare systems through cross-sector collaboration
Séverine Lalive Raemy, Lecturer in Nursing, Health and Disability Teaching and Research Laboratory
Markus Kosel, Head of the Department of Developmental Psychiatry, HUG/SSHID
Prof. Dr. Minerva Rivas Velarde, Disability and Health Lab, Coordinator for Europe and Central Asia of the Disability Data Initiative Hub, IEH2 – Institute for Ethics, History and the Humanities, University of Geneva

Goal
The workshop demonstrates how cross-sector and interprofessional collaboration can contribute to more inclusive healthcare.

Content
Drawing on experiences from Geneva, the speakers examine the areas of community health and education, equitable healthcare for people with disabilities, and the use of data and evidence. The focus is on how care needs can be better identified, gaps in the healthcare system closed, and sustainable partnerships built between different sectors.

Benefits
Participants gain concrete insight into key success factors for effective and sustainable collaboration and receive inspiration for advancing inclusive healthcare.

9:00 AM – 9:15 AM | Recap & Introduction to Healthy Athletes in Switzerland
Dr. Martin Liesch & Romain Fardel (Special Olympics Switzerland).

9:20 AM – 9:45 AM | Healthy Athletes Presentation
Björn Köhler (Special Olympics Europe Eurasia) & Dr. Imke Kaschke.

9:45 AM – 11:00 AM | Demonstration of “Opening Eyes” screenings

11:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Break

11:30 AM – 12:10 PM | Speed networking for Clinical Directors

12:10 PM – 1:30 PM | Apéro riche