Updates & Upcoming Events

Marathon season. That's a phrase we have been hearing more and more as the days have gotten shorter and the temperatures colder. Marathons and other road races often represent an incredible community health collaboration. Planners pick appropriate but challenging routes, participants spend weeks and months training, local organizations provide sponsorships and participation incentives, and advocates rally around and promote specific causes for which racers run.

And we feel, as we do about so many other healthy events, that races can and should be made inclusive to all community members. This can be done in any number of ways, such as ensuring that routes feature accessible, functional surfaces and wide enough spacing to accommodate assistive devices, such as racing chairs and walkers, to providing parking lots and restrooms that are ADA-accessible, to providing shuttle transit services that feature extendable ramps and lifts.

We recently had a chance to get some incredible, live-action footage of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Along with the gorgeous action shots, we got some excellent interviews regarding how racers with disabilities came together in the past to achieve inclusive measures to allow them equitable participation, and what that participation, and inclusion as a whole, means to them.

Don’t Forget to Make Your Own Commitment to Inclusion!

The Commit to Inclusion campaign was launched on October 6, 2014 in conjunction with the White House Summit on Improved Health and Fitness for Americans with Disabilities.  The engagement around Commit to Inclusion and social media activation using #InclusionMeans has been great!  Now we need you to become an Advocate for Inclusion by making the Commitment at http://committoinclusion.org/commit/.  With just a few minutes of your time you will become a leading role-model organization for inclusion.

Sunny’s blog: Conversations on Living Well with Polio - and More

Ever hear of the post-polio “wise elders?” Well, they are a group of 15 polio survivors over the age of 65 who are viewed by their fellow post-polio support group members as role models for late life success. They are happy and are still making a contribution to their communities. When I traveled across America and asked these “wise elders” about their secrets for living well and feeling good in late life with polio, they told me that their happiness directly related to embracing self-acceptance and making adaptations, tapping into the right resources and being surrounded by loved ones.

Let’s live well and live it up!  The focus of this blog is on LIFESTYLE and the art of living well as we grow into later life with the effects of polio.

http://www.sunnyrollerblog.com/

President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition’s Elevate Health

Elevate Health is a quarterly publication of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition. Issues cover a range of topics that includes aspects of sports, physical activity and fitness, physical education, nutrition, and dietetics research. The goal of the publication is to present a balanced, research-to-practice, evidence-based analysis of the topic for educators, sports coaches, public health practitioners and students. Click here to view issues of Elevate Health and past issues of the Research Digests, and be sure to subscribe to the mailing list to be the first to know when new editions are released!

The latest edition of Elevate Health is written by our very own NCHPAD Director, Guest Author James H. Rimmer, PhD.

Read here: October 2014: A Focus and Pathway to Inclusive Physical Activity for People with Disabilities

Work for Lakeshore!

Lakeshore Foundation, home to NCHPAD and several other incredible health programs and resources for people with disability, is currently accepting applications for the following positions:

Recreation Specialist: (full-time) Lakeshore is currently seeking an energetic, creative, resourceful, self-starter with experience in programming for and working with a variety of adapted sports and recreation programs, camps and events, for individuals with physical disabilities, including visual impairment. Please click here to find the responsibilities and qualifications for this position. Resume and letter of interest should be forwarded to Debbie Smith at debbies@lakeshore.org.

Communications Specialist:  This is a full-time position responsible for providing general creative support and collateral development for the organization. Best candidates will have experience utilizing various social media platforms, basic collateral development, basic photography and possess strong written and verbal communication skills. The ability to manage multiple tasks with careful attention to detail is critical.  Journalism/sports information and experience working in the field of disability preferred.  A degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism or related field required. New or recent graduates encouraged to apply. Resume and letter of interest should be forwarded to Debbie Smith at debbies@lakeshore.org.

Fitness Specialist: (full-time with evenings and weekends) General responsibilities include exercise programming for new and existing members, and monitoring of the Fitness Center for member and guest safety. This position is also responsible for class instruction and contributing to special programs/events. A four-year degree in a fitness-related area of study is preferred, as well as a nationally accredited certification in personal training and current CPR/AED. Knowledge of working with individuals with physical disabilities, along with three to five years of experience in general exercise prescription is also preferred. Resume and letter of interest should be forwarded to Debbie Smith at debbies@lakeshore.org.

Webinars

• Frequently Asked Questions on the ADA:  Alternative Modes of Transportation
  • http://www.projectaction.org/ESPANews/tabid/727/token/detail/nid/145/Default.aspx
  • Wednesday, November 19, 2-3.30pm EST
  • Overview of rights of people with disability regarding a variety of transportation options, including taxis, shuttles, and ridesharing applications.
•  The ADA, FMLA/Leave of Absence & The Rehab Act: An Update
  • http://www.ada-audio.org/Webinar/ADALegal/Schedule/#fy2015session1
  • Wednesday, November 19, 2-3.30pm EST
  • Webinar will examine issues of overlap between Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements and accommodations.
• Inclusive Emergency Planning - Lessons from the City of Los Angeles Lawsuit
  • http://adapresentations.org/schedule.php
  • Thursday, December 11, 2.30-4pm EST
  • Webinar will examine how to create and enact preparedness policies and action plans that are inclusive of all.

Events

• American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting
  • http://www.apha.org/meetings/annual/
  • November 15-19
  • New Orleans, LA
  • This meeting serves as the largest national gathering of officials and practitioners from all aspects of public health. We hope to see you there! Stop by and say hello at booth 1711!
• Bay Area Abilities Expo
  • http://www.abilitiesexpo.com/bayarea/
  • November 21-23
  • San Jose, CA
  • The Expo features new technologies, devices, and opportunities for people with disability, their friends and families, practitioners, and healthcare workers.
• International Day of Persons with Disabilities
  • http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1620
  • December 3
  • The theme of this year's International Day of Persons with Disabilities is "Sustainable Development: The Promise of Technology." Several events and opportunities to be involved can be found by clicking the above link.