National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability Awards Funding to Accelerate Disability Inclusion through Community-Based Micro-Grants
June 24, 2020 — The National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD) at the UAB-Lakeshore Research Collaborative announces awards for the Accelerating Disability Inclusion Community-Based Micro-grants. These grants, awarded to seven community-based organizations, aim to recognize, support and grow efforts around designing communities that promote inclusive health for people with disabilities.
The projects will create or advance disability inclusion in existing work by incorporating an innovative community-based project that integrates disability inclusion into programs, policy, systems and/or environments related to improving physical activity, nutrition or healthy weight management. All projects will demonstrate involvement of local disability representatives and show how the project will have a broad impact on people with disabilities in the identified community.
The project is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) and will be led by NCHPAD staff.
ABLE South Carolina
Accessibility and Inclusion Toolkit for YMCAs
Able South Carolina is the oldest and largest Center for Independent Living (CIL) in South Carolina, serving the Midlands and Upstate with several statewide programs. Able SC challenges stereotypes, empowers disability rights, and leads social change. Able SC will work in partnership with the Caine Halter YMCA and Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital to improve inclusive and affordable fitness opportunities in Greenville County by providing a comprehensive accessibility and inclusion review and implementation plan. A toolkit will be developed and disseminated through local, state and national networks so other fitness and recreation centers can utilize it to complete self-assessments for improving accessibility and inclusion.
Anchorage Park Foundation
Healthy Playgrounds, Healthy People in Anchorage, Alaska
The Anchorage Park Foundation (APF) builds healthy parks, healthy playgrounds and healthy people as the only non-profit partner to the Municipality of Anchorage Parks and Recreation. Anchorage’s Inclusive Play Work Group is a group of disability-engaged stakeholders working to improve play opportunities for children with disabilities. It brings together people with disabilities, government agencies, non-profit organizations, businesses and the Municipality of Anchorage Parks and Recreation to build and improve inclusive playgrounds. APF will use the State of Play recommendations to develop and implement an outreach and communication plan to increase knowledge of, awareness about and use of Anchorage’s inclusive playgrounds. They will also update online and print versions of Anchorage’s inclusive playground map and organize a training free public event for the Fairview Recreation Center’s first indoor inclusive playground.
Community Health Partners
Carrot Community Wellness: An Inclusive Approach to Community Wellness Programming
Community Health Partners (CHP) is a community-based organization that takes population-based health care to the next level, impacting one person at a time, one community at a time. Across the State of Iowa, CHP provides wellness programs, physical and aquatic therapy, nutrition services, medical programming, health coaching, and worksite well-being. The Clive (Iowa) Community Health and Wellness Initiative is a coordinated, multi-sector approach to addressing obesity, inactivity, poor nutrition, and mental health in their community. The Initiative has three task forces (Eat Well, Move More, and Feel Better) which are comprised of more than 30 organizational leaders and community members who are all working together to implement health improvement strategies at the neighborhood level in Clive. For this project, CHP will implement the inclusive, “Carrot Community Wellness Program” which features an innovative mobile app to address physical activity and weight-management for all abilities as part of the Clive Initiative.
Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County (CCESC)
Extension Community Therapeutic Sensory Garden
Cornell Cooperative Extension's mission is to put knowledge to work in pursuit of economic vitality, ecological sustainability, and social well-being. They bring local experience and research-based solutions together, helping New York State families and communities thrive. CCESC will work with The Center for Discovery and The New Hope Community to ensure that the Extension Education Center is accessible and valuable to all by expanding accessibility and a focus on inclusive health strategies like gardening. They will use the space to provide a Therapeutic Sensory Garden to community members including an edible garden space and education opportunities. Research shows that interactions within a therapeutic sensory garden helps reduce stress, anxiety and frustration, while promoting an environment to learn about healthy food choices.
Ouachita Baptist University
Arkadelphia Community Accessibility
Ouachita Baptist University is a Christ-centered learning community. Embracing the liberal arts tradition, the university prepares individuals for ongoing intellectual and spiritual growth, lives of meaningful work, and reasoned engagement with the world. They will use the Community Health Inclusion Index assessment tool to identify accessible walking areas in community neighborhoods. Community partners serving individuals with disabilities will aid in identifying target neighborhoods based on residence of persons with disabilities, community connectivity and safety of active transport. A community meeting will be held to train residents about accessibility as well as to disseminate maps of the identified accessible route through a mobile or web app.
Paris-Bourbon County YMCA
Enhancing Fitness to New Heights
The Paris-Bourbon County YMCA (PBCY) provides a nurturing, safe environment in which children have grown, adults have gained health and families have found support. They are committed to the continuance of strong programs and accessible facilities that support the healthy development of people of all ages and abilities. The Enhancing Fitness to New Heights Project aims to build capacity at the PBCY in rural Kentucky to offer accessible fitness and health programming with intentional inclusion for individuals with disabilities. This will be accomplished through building partnerships with local disability organizations, experts in universal design and inclusive health promotion programs, and enhancements for staff, programmatic, and policies or procedures that promote acceptance, accessibility, and affordability.
South Central Industries, Inc.
Good Food for Good Food Truck Project
South Central Industries (SCI) provides vocational training, employment opportunities,
residential services and social outlets that help individuals with developmental disabilities achieve their maximum potentials by integrating independence, self-determination and productivity into all facets of their lives. The “Good Food for Good” Food Truck program is a partnership between South Central Industries and the LunchBox restaurant with support of the Blue Zones Project Pottawatomie County. The owners of the LunchBox, a Blue Zones Project approved restaurant, will provide healthy recipes for a food truck that is operated by individuals with disabilities, providing healthy food options with inclusive, integrated employment opportunities. The food truck will travel throughout Shawnee, Oklahoma, and the surrounding communities to further promote inclusivity and empowerment.
About The National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD)
Founded in 1999, NCHPAD is a national resource and practice center that empowers communities, organizations and individuals through training, technical assistance, advocacy, thought leadership, health promotion, and health communication to create livable places, healthy people, and sustainable inclusion (CDC Grant # NU27DD001157).
For more information, please visit www.nchpad.org.