1) Environment Plays a Key Role in Disability and Health: This month we focus on the linkages between the environment, physical activity, and health for persons with disabilities. Disability can be defined as a gap between person abilities and environmental demands (Verbrugge, 1994). Though the focus is often targeted to improving individual abilities (Verbrugge & Jette, 1994), many environments can be modified to assist persons with disabilities achieve a higher quality of life. This issue includes contributions that highlight the interaction between the environment, disability, and physical activity or health promotion. Dr. Rimmer discusses the emerging condition that he refers to as environmental disability; Rimmer et al. (2004)(see abstract below) reported that there are a multitude of barriers and facilitators affecting people with disabilities' access to physical activity participation; the CDC is now restructuring so it can better address the environmental barriers to key preventive services, health promotion activities, and health care for people with disabilities; the Association of University Centers on Disability has a Project Director Position opening to work with the NCBDDD; Mike Craven from the U.K., who visited NCHPAD last month, reflects on international comparisons in cultural and political environments affecting health promotion programming for persons with disabilities; and the American Public Health Association conference, November 6-10, is focused on the environment and public health issues.
2) Diabetes Affects Millions: Diabetes is a condition that can either exacerbate an existing disability or can create a new disability such as limb or vision loss. This month is American Diabetes Month. Visit the American Diabetes Association Web site at http://www.ncpad.org/684/3055/2004-11-01#1 or call 800-232-3472 for more information. See the NCHPAD diabetes factsheet at http://www.ncpad.org/88/661/Diabetes.
3) Don't Forget Caregiver Health Promotion: Exercise is one of the key factors in improving mental and physical health and helps reduce the burden of caring for a loved one. The importance of health promotion for caregivers of individuals with disabilities, and who often have chronic conditions and disabilities themselves, is too often overlooked. This month is National Family Caregivers Month. Obtain more information on obtaining support, empowerment, and advocacy at 800-896-3650 or http://www.ncpad.org/684/3055/2004-11-01#2. Caregivers should avail themselves of NCPAD's helpful resources, including general exercise guidelines (http://www.ncpad.org/14/73/Exercise~Guidelines~for~People~with~Disabilities), strength training guidelines (http://www.ncpad.org/19/109/Training~With~Weights~or~Resistance), nutritional suggestions (http://www.ncpad.org/content/12/Health~Promotion~Nutrition), and more at www.ncpad.org.
4) American College of Sports Medicine Newsletter: See the new American College of Sports Medicine Fit Society Page newsletters at http://www.ncpad.org/684/3055/2004-11-01#3. The current issue features nutrition and fitness for the older adult, with information on lowering blood pressure, T'ai Chi, and more.