Renee Manfredi Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger Blog #5: 2019 SONA Sports & Health Conference, oh yeah!

By Renee Manfredi, Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger and Special Olympics Hawaii Athlete Leader

I had the opportunity earlier this month to attend the 2019 SONA Sports & Health Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This conference was a great opportunity for me to learn, share, & hopefully make an impact.

1st… My Athlete Impact Story was my highlight. I was invited to present this at the General Session. I shared about how Special Olympics has changed my life and that I found my Ohana, my family, in Special Olympics Hawaii. I also spoke about my role as an Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger (SSIGM) working toward inclusive health for people with IDD and the health disparities that we face. I told the participants about the Kaiser Grand Rounds that I was invited to speak at about these disparities and to help doctors to better understand patients with IDD. The Kaiser Grand Rounds are a monthly continuing medical education presentation broadcasted simultaneously to physicians and providers at over twenty sites across four islands. The presentations focus on universally relevant topics. I was very glad that better health care for persons w/IDD was well received because I want to have better health outcomes for all of us. I also shared and instructed the participants in some simple stretching exercises that we use in our walking program Holoholo, which means “let’s go walking”. Being the exercise instructor was too much fun.

2nd…I attended the Health Messenger Train the Trainer training. It was great to reunite with other Health Messengers I knew and to meet new people from around the country.

We worked on lesson plans that will incorporate the Fit5 fitness disciplines such as Nutrition, Hydration, Flexibility, Strength, Balance, Exercise, & Endurance. We discussed new ideas on how can we promote inclusive health within our delegations and our programs. There was discussion and planning on training others to be Health Messengers. Jen Ernst and I shared how SOHI will hold our 1st Health Messenger training this coming January. I left inspired and excited about incorporating these ideas into our program. I hope everyone else was inspired as well to be healthier Coaches, Teammates, & Mentors.

3rd…Being a part of the Inclusive Health and Self-Advocacy session as a co-presenter was not just exciting but very important to me. Advocacy is NOT something everyone knows about. Self-advocacy is not something everyone knows HOW to do. I was able to help other state programs learn that their athletes can become their own Health Self-Advocates. I know that is a mouthful, but Speaking up for your own health is step 1 in taking charge of your own health. This is very important because no one knows you better than you do.

What I liked best was demonstrating exercises and challenges, like Push-ups and planks.

4th and best of all… I learned about FLANNEL! This may sound silly to you but I live in Hawaii and we just do not wear flannel. I purchased my FIRST flannel shirt ever to wear to the Minnesota Host Night. I felt like a lumberjack and I could not stop singing, “I’m a Lumberjack and that’s ok”. Thank you Minnesota for being our hosts!!

I think it is so important to have athletes attending conferences so that we are more prepared and valuable representatives in our community and in our sports organizations. With athletes as presenters, exercise instructors, emcees, planners, and active participants at the conference, there was meaningful Inclusion in so many ways.