AADMD Members Receive Spirit of China Award

On October 3, 2007, in Shanghai, China, Special Olympics honored Dr. Paul Berman and I with its highest award, the Spirit of China Award for global leadership in promoting human dignity. Past recipients of this award include Nelson Mandela, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Deng Pufang, Nadia Comaneci, Yao Ming, Vanessa Williams, and Ray Lane. The event was televised throughout Asia as a television special with leaders of the Chinese entertainment industry performing. We cannot express how overwhelmed we were as we had no knowledge of our receiving it prior to the event.

Special Olympics is a forty-year-old organization whose mission it is to promote sports, physical fitness and self-esteem for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Fourteen years ago, Paul and I introduced health screenings and some treatment into Special Olympics. Our pilot program has lead to a Healthy Athlete movement to improve the quality of life for individuals with intellectual disabilities. This movement now includes the six components of podiatry, physical therapy, audiology, vision, dental and health promotion; the program uncludes physicians and nurses in Medfest programs.

Many AADMD members now participate in the program as weill as provide guidelines and educational materials for the athletes and families. We would like to get many more of our AADMD colleagues involved in this most worthwhile program. We invite our fellow AADMD members to become involved by contacting our Executive Director, Dr. Matt Holder. As the leading experts in developmental medicine, we welcome and need your expertise and participation.

Dr. Steven Perlman has served as Secretary since September 2006 and will continue to serve in this capacity for the remainder of his two-year term. Dr. Perlman also serves as Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatric Dentistry at the Boston University School of Dental Medicine.