Happy and Healthy New Year from NCPAD! As Dr. Rimmer's column indicates, we do have considerable influence over our health behaviors, which affect our functional level, wellness, and more. NCHPAD can assist persons with disabilities and chronic health conditions such as arthritis or diabetes in attaining higher health status and quality of life through new life choices and behaviors.

In this issue, we highlight our new publications on exercise for persons with intellectual disabilities and the U.S. Access Board guidelines on accessible design, an article on disability instrumentation, and some new and familiar organizations and events supporting healthier lifestyles for people with disabilities. Please send your comments and relevant information to Jennifer Gray-Stanley at jegray@uic.edu.

1. Have you made (or broken) your new year's resolutions yet? Consider the following tips to help you set practical and attainable goals this year. See NCPAD's factsheet at http://www.ncpad.org/71/525/Motivation~Through~Goal~Setting for further ideas.
   1. Be realistic and set attainable goals. Consult NCHPAD for suggestions on adaptive exercise equipment or to determine how to develop an exercise program suited to your needs and disability level.
   2. Base goals on personal wishes, desires, and dreams, rather than meeting others' or society's expectations. A resolution is likely to fail if it doesn't come from your own self-determination.
   3. Use your self-made social support system to help motivate you. Purchase a seated aerobics video to perform with friends or plan an adapted camping trip with your family (http://www.ncpad.org/66/489/Camping~~Backpacking~~and~Hiking).
   4. When you have attained one of your resolutions, reward yourself with healthy pleasures, which could include chatting with a friend, wheeling though a nature preserve, going to a movie (avoid the buttered popcorn!), shopping with family members, etc.
   
   
2. Celebrate Healthy Weight Week January 16-22.
   http://www.ncpad.org/686/3086/2005-01-01#2
   
3. Adaptip (Active Learning and Empowerment through Adapted Physical Activity) has a new search engine available at http://www.ncpad.org/686/3086/2005-01-01#3. Search criteria include condition, activity area, and task.
   
4. Step Up to Health ... It Starts In Parks
   Since 1999, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has been working with a number of national partners to develop new approaches to improving the health of all Americans through parks and recreation. Over 100 local park and recreation agencies of all types and sizes have assisted NRPA in designing new strategies in both health and sport. Designated as Magnet Centers, these agencies have innovated and evaluated a national community mobilization model that has lead to the "Step Up to Health - It Starts In Parks" national grassroots initiative that is being launched this year.

    

   For more information, go to http://www.ncpad.org/686/3086/2005-01-01#3.