Special Olympics Bharat Inks Deal To Enhance Sports Dentistry For Athletes With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities
Special Olympics Bharat has signed a 10-year memorandum of understanding with the Indian Dental Association (IDA) and the Indian Academy of Sports Dentistry (IASD) to improve oral health and sports safety for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
The agreement focuses on advocacy, awareness and training to ensure quality oral healthcare for people with IDD, while empowering dental professionals with skills to deliver specialised care. The collaboration will also support research, innovation and initiatives such as *Krida Danta Suraksha* in sports dentistry for Special Olympics Bharat.
“This partnership addresses a matter of great urgency,” said Dr Mallika Nadda, president of Special Olympics Bharat. “With IDA’s support, we can better serve our athletes and coaches.”
IDA secretary general Dr Ashok Dhoble said the association aims to equip professionals to meet the oral health challenges faced by people with IDD, while IASD academic director Dr Reena Kumar called the tie-up “a significant step” towards inclusive care and enhanced sports readiness.
IDA, with over 90,000 members across 600 branches, has been the voice of India’s dental profession for 76 years. IASD, an IDA initiative, integrates oral health with sports medicine and offers specialised training in sports dentistry.
