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District of Columbia: The Center for Child and Human Development at Georgetown University

June 18, 2007

The Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development has created a variety of products related to health and wellness:

  • Family Food and Fitness: A Guide to Healthy Eating and Exercise provides families with information about healthy eating and active lifestyles. Families can use this information to help them buy fresh food, prepare nutritious meals, and have fun being active. We encourage families to include their children while they shop for food, prepare meals, and cook. Children who participate in cooking enjoy eating and make healthier food choices. The manual includes information about nutrition recommendations, food safety, meal planning and preparation, budgeting and physical activity. The guide can be downloaded here.
  • Health and Wellness for Individuals with Disabilities: An Annotated Bibliography of On-Line Resources is specifically geared for people with disabilities interested in attaining and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Participating in physical exercise and activity, maintaining good nutrition, managing stress, and creating social supports are important to promote health and wellness. Finding appropriate activity, wellness, and health promotion information that pertains to their unique needs can be challenging for individuals with disabilities, their families, and service providers. This document can be downloaded here.
  • The Move, Experience, Engage (M.E.E.) Calendar includes a variety of activities that will help promote health and a sense of well-being. Some of the activities promote fitness and flexibility; others increase awareness of the community or holiday traditions; and others are to help individuals with disabilities relax or socialize. There are many different types of activities such as arts and crafts, cooking, game playing, etc. Some are very easy while others may be a bit more challenging for some individuals with disabilities. One activity is listed for each day of the year. The Classification Guide describes the emphasis of each activity (movement, sensory, social, arts and crafts, and cooking). The M.E.E. Calendar is divided into three sections. Section One describes general precautions as well as a description of the symbols used on the calendar to classify the activities. Section Two is a month to month listing of the activities. Following each month there are descriptions and suggestions to adapt the activities if necessary or desired. Section Three are photos of individuals doing the exercises recommended in the calendar.
  • Fit for Life: An Exercise Video. Created in partnership with George Washington University, School of Public Health and Program in Physical Therapy, Fit for Life is a 20 minute exercise video made especially for adults with developmental disabilities. The video shows four adults with various disabilities exercising under the direction of a physical therapist. The exercise program includes all elements of a comprehensive health oriented program: Warm-up, flexibility, strengthening, balance, and aerobic training. A brochure that describes each of the exercises accompanies the video.
  • Exercise Fact Sheet encourages individuals to incorporate exercise into naturally occurring activities and routines. Exercise Fact Sheet can be downloaded here.
  • DC Health Resources Partnership is a web site that provides information to improve the health of adults with developmental disabilities. The web site promotes the goal of the project to expand the community health care capacity for individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. Information on providing health and mental health services that are accessible and implementing strategies to promote quality health outcomes is on the site.
  • Prevention, Assessment and Intervention for Falls in Adults with Developmental Disabilities: A Power Point Presentation explains the common risk factors for falls in the aging population, explains common screening tools used to assess fall risk in this population and provides strategies to prevent falls in the home and community.
  • Physical Activity for Adults with Developmental Disabilities: A Power Point Presentation explains the importance of physical activity for individuals with developmental disabilities and provides strategies to incorporate physical activity into everyday activities and routines.

For more information about these resources, please contact Toby Long, PhD, PT, Director of Training, Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development at 202-687-8899.