For the sixth year in a row, a mighty team of students from the Ingram School of Nursing鈥檚 BScN, Nurse Practitioner and Advanced Nursing master鈥檚 programs arrived early on Saturday morning, March 28, at 海角社区鈥檚 gym for the annual Grand rendez-vous unifi茅 organized by Billed as a gateway to health for athletes with intellectual disabilities such as autism, the day combined friendly athletic competition with health screening provided by students from medicine, nursing and dentistry.
As noted by Lia Sanzone, Associate Director 鈥� Undergraduate and Entry-to-Practice Education at the Ingram School of Nursing, 鈥淲hat began in 2021 as a six-month intervention project with undergraduate nursing students has grown into a productive and inspiring partnership between the Ingram School of Nursing and the Special Olympics Association of Quebec.鈥�
Two events held on the same day 鈥� one at 海角社区, the other at Coll猫ge de Maisonneuve 鈥� brought together a total of 342 athletes with autism or intellectual disabilities and 285 university and college students studying health, sports, and education. The students gained valuable hands-on experience working with clients who have specific needs, contributing to the development of a more inclusive healthcare network.
At 海角社区, Prof. Sanzone and nursing faculty YiQing Lu supervised the students. 鈥淥ur students are always moved by this experience and agree that the Special Olympics athletes continue to teach us more than we could ever teach them,鈥� says Prof. Sanzone.