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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Jasmina Sisirak, MPH, Beth Marks, RN, PhD, and Tamar Heller, PhD. Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1640 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, IL 60608, 312-996-3982, jsisir1@uic.edu

Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) living in group homes and apartment settings have diets high in fat calories and low in fruits and vegetables. While today more adults with I/DD live in less restrictive environments, they have not been given tools and accessible education to make choices that support a healthy lifestyle. Interventions focused on increasing nutrition and physical activity knowledge and reducing obesity are needed to support adults with I/DD in living a healthy life in a community setting. Outcomes of Learning Through Pictures health literacy program for adults with I/DD were examined. Participants were 38 adults with I/DD ages 30 years and older (27 females, 17 males, M age = 45 years) who were randomized into an intervention (n = 21) or control group (n = 17). The intervention group participated in eight one-hour nutrition and physical activity education sessions using the Learning Through Pictures Curriculum. Topics of the curriculum included healthy food choices, portion sizes, energy expenditure, and nutrients in different foods. Compared to control (71% correct answers), the intervention group showed significant increase in knowledge (83% correct answers), p<0.05 after the program.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the needs of health promotion and health literacy programs for adults with I/DD.
• Describe Learning Through Pictures health literacy intervention program for adults with I/DD.
• Evaluate the efficacy of Learning Through Pictures Curriculum.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered