Special Olympics FitFeet programme as an educational clinical experience for Podiatry Students

This case study describes the Special Olympics FitFeet programme as an educational clinical experience for Podiatry students at the University of Galway, delivered in partnership with Special Olympics Ireland and Sizewise. The initiative established a bi-annual foot screening event where Year 3 Podiatric Medicine students conducted supervised clinical assessments for athletes with intellectual disabilities, including shoe measurement, dermatological, joint, and gait assessments, alongside patient education. The programme aims to enhance inclusive communication skills, clinical competence, and awareness of health equity issues. In its initial screening day, 18 student volunteers participated, screening 22 athletes, with 13 referred for further care, highlighting both the educational value and community health impact. The initiative supports experiential, application-directed learning and is intended to be embedded within relevant modules and sustained on a semester basis.