The Special Olympics Inclusive Health Longitudinal Evaluation is called Project ALL STAR. ALL STAR stands for “Active Life and Longevity: Special Olympics Transforming Athlete Results”

Project ALL STAR aims to understand how Special Olympics Sport and Health programs affect athletes. Project ALL STAR will keep track of athletes' physical, mental, and social well-being throughout their lives. The results from the project will help improve programs and make a difference in the lives of athletes and their families.

Special Olympics is an athlete-led organization. We want to make sure that our project captures the important perspective of athletes and their families while conducting and evaluating the project. The Athlete Advisory Board was formed as a Co-Researcher initiative. The Special Olympics International Athlete Advisory Board is a group of Special Olympics athletes. Their main goal is to make sure that Project ALL STAR reflects the preferences and experiences of athletes and families. Athletes will complete inclusive research training that will provide them with insights into inclusive research. The training makes clear their significant roles in shaping the longitudinal evaluation. They will further complete research ethics training tailored specifically for adults with IDD, ensuring their preparedness for research involvement. The board has important jobs, like: 

1. Learning about inclusive health research.
2. Inclusive health research means that athletes are part of the research project as co-researchers. They will provide their feedback and perspectives on the research. 
3. Share their thoughts on study materials like surveys, recruitment materials, and other resources.  
4. Create study materials that everyone can understand.  
5. Present evaluation findings and personal stories to promote Project ALL STAR.  

The Scientific Advisory Board helped the Research and Evaluation Team design Project ALL STAR. They gave key insights on the development and protocol. The Scientific Advisory Board was established to help advance research and evaluation activities of Special Olympics Health programming. The Board will advise Special Olympics staff and leadership on strategies to develop a better understanding of 1) the health of people with IDD, and 2) the effectiveness of Special Olympics Health programming.  

Specific Duties of the Position 

The Special Olympics Scientific Advisory Board will be asked to guide the development and implementation of Special Olympics Health research and evaluation efforts, including:  

• Advising on the scientific merit and feasibility of proposed activities including Project ALL STAR
• Prioritizing efforts that will best serve Special Olympics athletes, Special Olympics International, and the broader population of people with IDD
• Characterizing the health and well-being of people with IDD
• Evaluating the impact of participation in Special Olympics Health programing and sport competitions
• Identifying validated instruments to document changes in the health status of Special Olympics athletes
• Linking key stakeholders, prospective partners, and opportunities for collaboration
• Fostering best practices for inclusive health research, evidence-based policy, and technical assistance
• Developing an inclusive health research agenda in concert with a broader organization-wide research agenda

The collaboration between the state programs and the Special Olympics Research and Evaluation Team is key to making sure Project ALL STAR is a success. Four Special Olympics State Programs are taking part in the first phase of Project ALL STAR. These states are:

There are four Research Coordinators stationed at the four participating state programs: Arizona, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Research Coordinators are at the heart of the evaluation. They support the implementation of the longitudinal evaluation protocol at the program level. Their various responsibilities span from conducting data collection to the recruitment and training of data collectors, all while maintaining communication with the research team. The collaboration between Special Olympics International, Special Olympics State Programs, research coordinators, and athlete co-researchers is pivotal for the successful implementation of the evaluation. 

Special Olympics Volunteers are essential to the success of the Special Olympics mission. Without their dedication and support, the organization would not be able to achieve its goals. Project ALL STAR relies on volunteers for various events to help the project succeed, including research assistants and event volunteers. Their contributions are invaluable in ensuring the project's success and the Special Olympics's overall mission.