For Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) athletes, the joy of competition is central to their experience. But one often-overlooked barrier to overall well-being remains: consistent, appropriate dental care.
Thanks to the dedication of dental professional and longtime SOWI volunteer Stacey Rudolph, a vital program called Care Connect is now helping athletes receive the treatment they need.
SOWI’s Special Smiles program (funding provided by Delta Dental of Wisconsin Foundation) provides dental screenings at four major events throughout the year.
These screenings often uncover issues requiring follow-up care. However, as athlete and Athlete Health Messenger Heather Holland discovered firsthand, finding dentists who accept Medicaid and are trained to treat individuals with intellectual disabilities can be a major hurdle.
“I called a clinic, and they told me they were only accepting kids, people in wheelchairs, the nonverbal, and autistic,” Heather said. “It really crushed me. I was like, ‘Sir, you’re taking special needs kids, but you’re not taking special needs adults?’”
Heather’s experience is not uncommon and underscores the systemic challenges adults with intellectual disabilities face when seeking dental care. Stacey Rudolph explains the root of the problem.
“There are only a select number of clinics that accept Medicaid throughout the state. Often, it’s one or two per county. Some counties have more, some have less, and some have none.”
The limited number of providers means individuals with intellectual disabilities, who often rely on Medicaid, must compete for services alongside low-income populations and aging. Additionally, most dental clinics are not trained to treat patients with intellectual disabilities.
Stacey experienced this challenge firsthand.
“I’m a parent of a daughter with Down syndrome. When she was 3 years old, the dental hygienist said she wasn’t comfortable seeing my daughter, so we were just going to wait for the dentist to see her,” she recounted. “And I’m like, ‘Huh? Is that just how it is?’ I didn’t realize that wasn’t how it was supposed to be. I needed to advocate for my daughter.”
That moment was a turning point. Already in her 30’s. Stacey returned to Wisconsin from Washington and decided to return to school to become a dental hygienist for people with disabilities. While in dental hygiene school, Stacey began volunteering at Special Smiles events. After graduating, she went on to become a Special Smiles clinical director for SOWI and launched Care Connect.
Care Connect operates as a triage system. After statewide events like the Spring, Summer and Fall Games, and the State Bowling Tournament, Stacey receives a list of athletes flagged for follow-up care.
“I get as much information as I can about contacting them. And I just sit down, and one after the other, I call them, I email them,” she explained.
Throughout the past year, Stacey has “scraped the internet” to compile a list of dental providers who accept Medicaid. She organizes these into easy-to-read one-page handouts by SOWI region and distributes them at events, helping athletes find care close to home.
Melissa Schoenbrodt, Director of Health Programs for Special Olympics Wisconsin, emphasized the impact of Stacey’s work.
“Stacey Rudolph and the Care Connect program are absolute game-changers for our athletes,” said Melissa. “Stacey’s dedication to documenting resources and making these essential connections ensures that the critical follow-up care our athletes need actually happens.”
In addition to making connections with Athletes, Stacey also acts as a teacher and mentor to student volunteers at SOWI events.
“It’s not just about healthy teeth, it’s also about helping healthcare professionals and students feel comfortable treating people with special healthcare needs. Stacey has collaborated with SOWI and offered Inclusive Health Trainings to several hygiene schools around the state. Special Smiles events also offer hands-on training for dental professionals and students”.
When Heather faced her initial rejection, her call to Stacey quickly set Care Connect into motion.
“I actually called the clinic and explained the situation,” Stacey recalled. “I explained who Heather was, that I was working with Special Olympics, and that she had already been screened. These are the needs she had.”
Because Heather was no longer just “some person coming off the street”, the clinic’s response changed.
“I was able to provide that information from a perspective that wasn’t the patient,” Stacey said. That advocacy made all the difference for Heather.
“And now, it’s really cool,” Heather said. “They’re all super friendly because they knew I was having a hard time with the cleanings and being in the chair. They didn’t talk down to me, and they’re very nice and soft-spoken. I’m really grateful to be getting the care I need in a welcoming environment.”
From a disheartening experience with her young daughter to becoming a driving force for change, Stacey’s dedication has now spanned more than a decade.
Through Care Connect, Stacey Rudolph, inspired by her personal journey and the voices of athletes like Heather, is not just closing a gap in dental care. She’s helping build a more inclusive, equitable health care landscape for Special Olympics Wisconsin athletes, one special smile at a time.
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