National Women's Health Week 2011 at OH UCEDD
May 24, 2011
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This May, for the third year in row, the University of Cincinnati (UC) University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) in the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital joined the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health in celebrating National Women's Health Week 2011. National Women's Health Week encourages women to take charge of their own health and learn ways to improve their physical and mental health and lower their risks of certain health problems.
This year the UC UCEDD offered two Women's Health Week programs specially designed for women in the Greater Cincinnati area with developmental disabilities. The programs offered training in safety, healthy eating and fitness. Local experts from the Cincinnati Police Department, Nutrition Council of Greater Cincinnati and Cincinnati Recreation Commission Therapeutic Recreation were guest speakers. This year, by popular demand, two programs were offered. On May 6 the third annual Spring into Action 3, was held and attended by 45 women ages 16-29 with developmental disabilities. On May 13, 48 women ages 30-44+ gathered for Be Safe. Be Smart. Be Strong. In 2009 and 2010, the UC UCEDD Women's Health Week day-long programs attracted over 175 women with developmental disabilities.
We can't forget the men! On December 3, 2010, the first "Ultimate Men's Health Day" was offered and over 50 men with developmental disabilities attended to hear experts from Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services, the TALL Institute and Cincinnati Recreation Commission-Therapeutic Recreation lead sessions on feeling good, being safe and active.
Both the Men's and Women's Health events Feedback from self-advocates was positive and included comments such as "The program will help me take better care of myself" ,"I had so much fun" and "I wish we could do this once a month". They also liked "Getting to know people" and "Getting to talk with people".
The Women's Health Week2009, 2010 and 2011 programs were supported in part by funding for Women's Health Week from the Ohio Department of Health, Office of Healthy Ohio, Bureau of Health Promotion and Risk Reduction, Violence and Injury Prevention Program. The project was administered by HEALTH-UC and the University of Cincinnati AHEC Program. The Women's Health Week and Men's Health Day programs were also supported by community partners including Cincinnati Recreation Commission, Division of Therapeutic Recreation, Cincinnati Police Department, Community Ambassadors Resource Alliance (CARA), Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati, Franks Adult Center Parent Group, Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services, Hamilton County Special Olympics, Nutrition Council of Greater Cincinnati, Spina Bifida Association of Greater Cincinnati, Starfire Council, TECS and The TALL Institute and QEST. For more information about the programs, contact Tena Benson, RN, MPH [email protected]
