Lead Organization:  Easter Seals Arc of Northeast Indiana

Contact:  Jessica McBride, Director of Community Support, Easter Seals Arc of Northeast Indiana, jmcbride@esarc.org

Partners and Collaborators Include:  New Haven Chamber of Commerce, Smoke Free Allen County, Urban League, Parkview Health & Fitness, Parkview YMCA, Easter Seals Arc nurse practitioner, IUPUI

To combat the disproportionately high number of individuals with disabilities who smoke, the Fort Wayne inclusive health coalition has partnered with Smoke Free Indiana to make their “Learning about Healthy Living” curriculum inclusive. This program targets smoking cessation and promotes improving diet, increasing activity, and managing stress. They are also working with IUPUI on smoking cessation among people with disabilities.

Identifying an increased need for appropriate health care for individuals with disabilities in the community, Easter Seals Arc created and operates a health clinic and employs a nurse practitioner out of its facility. This clinic provides specialized care that takes into account the unique ability levels of those who visit, and has led to a reduction in local emergency room visits by individuals with disabilities by 24 percent.

Finally, the IHC has worked with the YMCA on multiple endeavors. They have created an inclusive Zumba class, and are also working with the YMCA on additional group exercise programs for people with disabilities. They have also worked together on the YMCA's Adaptive Social program, in which individuals with disabilities participate in crafts and socialize with others at the YMCA. The IHC is working to recruit more individuals to attend and take advantage of this opportunity and experience the benefits it can yield, as well as to engage in health-related activities after the Adaptive Social ends.