“Experiential Learning Changes Everything”: A Special Olympics Volunteer Bringing Students into the Movement for Inclusive Care 

Cheryl Arntson has built her career around a simple idea: care should be within reach for everyone. 

As an associate professor at the University of Alberta and Dental Hygiene External Community Coordinator, Cheryl spends her time examining those gaps from every angle—through research, through teaching, and through hands-on clinical work. Her focus is on access to care for vulnerable communities, and how the next generation of healthcare professionals can be better prepared to meet their needs. 

This summer, she’ll bring that perspective to a new setting as a Clinical Director with Special Olympics Canada’s Healthy Athletes program, through the Special Smiles discipline at the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games Medicine Hat 2026.

While Cheryl is new to Special Olympics Healthy Athletes, her connection to the community it serves runs deeper. Through both her professional work and personal life, she has seen how individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are often misunderstood or overlooked in healthcare settings. 

“There are a lot of preconceived notions,” she explains. “People may talk over patients, talk down to them, or ignore their needs entirely because everything gets attributed to their disability instead of their health.”  

For Cheryl, improving access to care starts with shifting that mindset. 

In practice, that perspective shows up in small but meaningful ways. Cheryl recalls working with an elderly patient with Down syndrome who was initially cautious in the dental chair—something she sees not as resistance, but as a reflection of past experiences. With time and consistency, that comfort grew, and so did his willingness to engage in his own care.  

Moments like that reinforce what Cheryl sees as a fundamental shift needed in healthcare: measuring success not just by outcomes, but by experience. 

“Ultimately, it’s the patient’s experience that we need to measure our success on,” she says. “We aim for best practice, but sometimes we need to modify that expectation so we can build trust first.” 

That mindset is reflected in Special Smiles, where care is delivered with a focus on comfort, dignity and accessibility. 

For Cheryl, one of the most powerful aspects of the program is its role in education. 

“There’s a huge gap in what’s taught about working with people with disabilities,” she says. “Experiential learning—actually interacting with individuals—is one of the best ways to break down uncertainty ormisconceptions.”  

That’s why she’s bringing more than just her own expertise to Medicine Hat—she’s bringing her students. 

“I’ve recruited a number of dental and dental hygiene students to volunteer,” she says. “Because this is how they learn. This is how they become more confident and more inclusive in their future practice.”  

It’s a ripple effect she knows can shape the future of healthcare—one experience at a time. 

As she prepares for her first Games, Cheryl is looking forward to stepping into the Clinical Director role, learning from experienced leaders, and seeing the program come to life in a high-energy, athlete-focused environment. She’s especially excited to experience the opening ceremonies and to work alongside the students she’s encouraged to get involved. 

“I’m excited to participate—to really be part of it,” she says.  

Because for Cheryl, this isn’t just about one week supporting athletes competing on the national stage. It’s about helping shape a future where more healthcare professionals feel prepared, more doors are open, and more individuals receive the care they deserve.