Guest Editor, Holli Lapes, RDN candidate, B.S. Dietetics and Nutrition

Interning with Karlyn Emile at the Special Olympics Florida Healthy Community has been my first experience working with individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD). At first I did not know what to expect, but I knew it would be a rewarding experience.

I have taken part in teaching weekly nutrition classes as well as social awareness classes on-site at the Hollywood location. I also represented Special Olympics Florida in the community at an event called Pines Night Out. Similarly, I helped to formulate interactive nutrition questions to be used by the coaches who are working with the athletes out in the field.

Impactful Moments:

The fact that there is an overwhelming need for nutrition awareness in this population makes the progress of these students that much more rewarding. After familiarizing myself with the screening results and the prevalence of…