Michaela Bell ‘26, MOT ’28; Abigail Ellis MOT ’28; Katrina Etts, MD ’27; and Alyssa Woodward ’26, came together to create an engaging, Pilates-inspired obstacle course for athletes with disabilities who celebrated health and wellness. Their biggest goal, however, was to ensure every athlete had fun.

Their course included four stations: balancing a ping-pong ball on a spoon, sit-ups, squats and jumping jacks.

“We intentionally designed the relay to be adaptable based on participants’ skill levels and comfort,” said Ellis. “For example, some stations could be modified to use seated or standing arm movements only, ensuring that everyone could take part.”

This opportunity was presented to students through their interprofessional education micro-credential course, which encourages students in healthcare to familiarize themselves with other disciplines.

“Through that program, I learned about the chance to volunteer at the Special Olympics Fall Festival and immediately wanted to be a part of it,” said Bell. 
For Etts, this opportunity was an opportunity to apply classroom lessons to the real world.

“Quinnipiac has placed a big emphasis on service learning and interprofessional collaboration, and this opportunity perfectly aligned with those values,” said Etts. “We were able to collaborate on the idea, set-up and how we ran the station — with the goal of making a meaningful experience for all athletes.”

There were many moments that captured the amazing impact these athletes had on the Quinnipiac students, but certain interactions stood out to each of them.

Ellis describes her experience with an athlete who needed support from a caregiver throughout the course. She completed the course alongside him, modifying each station to his abilities.

“Even with the modifications, he gave his full effort, and after completing each station, he was full of pride, smiling and repeating, ‘I did it! I did it!’” said Ellis. “It was incredibly heartwarming to see how much joy and confidence he gained from the experience, and it reminded me how powerful small moments of inclusion and success can be.”

Bell said she believes that the experience provided her with a greater sense of purpose, realizing the importance of her work in the lives of these athletes.

She recalls a conversation with Simon, an athlete at the event.

“He thanked me for making him sweat and use his body and emphasized how important it is for him to move his body and stay active, and the Special Olympics gives him the opportunity to do that,” said Bell.

As the athletes crossed the finish line, no matter the modifications to the course, their smiles and cheers told a story.

“It was humbling and heartwarming to witness how something so simple could create such powerful moments in the athletes and in all of us,” said Etts. “I hope the athletes felt seen, celebrated and supported.”

The Special Olympics Fall Festival was more than an athletic event, it was an example of the great impact of interprofessional, compassionate care. 

For these Quinnipiac students, it was a moment to bring inclusion to life, creating a lasting impact in both their careers and the lives of local athletes.

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