Partnerships in wellness

Adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD), like the U.S. population as a whole, face challenges in establishing and maintaining healthy, active lifestyles. This population, however, is more likely than the general public to live with complex health conditions, have limited access to health promotion programs, to report inadequate levels of physical activity, and for some subpopulations, to be overweight or obese (e.g., Henderson et al., 2009; Krahn, et al., 2006; Raspa, et al., 2010; USDHHS, 2002). While there are many excellent resources on physical activity and nutrition available those resources typically require reading and are not customized to address the needs of adults with IDD who have significant limitations in communication, reading and learning that require specific adaptations or accommodations. This project targets adults with IDD who require on-going daily supports, have limited or no reading skills and who would benefit from learning about improved nutrition and active living. This poster will present information about the development and pilot test of a research-based, universally-designed health promotion curriculum for adults with IDD that addresses the unique learning needs of this population. Partnering of an adult with IDD with a peer “buddy” to increase comprehension of the material as well as motivation is an important aspect of the curriculum.