However, NCPAD has recognized that for most people with disabilities, barriers to physical activity programs such as cost, transportation, and inaccessible features prohibit them from participating in sports, fitness, and recreation programs. In response, the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability has developed a free, online health promotion program for adults with disabilities which individuals can utilize from home with use of little to no equipment. The NCPAD 14-Week Program to A Healthier You is a personalized, web based exercise and nutrition program primarily for people with mobility limitations, chronic health conditions and physical disabilities.

The program will provide information on how to exercise and eat nutritious foods in a way that meets each individual’s needs and goals, as well as provide motivational tools to help participants initiate and maintain healthy behaviors. Additionally, the 14-Week Program offers an interactive interface uniquely designed to every participant’s ability level and interests.

Included in the program are the following features:

o New, personalized weekly exercises
o Physical activity and nutrition tips
o Motivational resources
o Weekly recipes
o Features to help you track your activity and what you eat
o Optional reminders and alerts
o Opportunities to connect with other participants
o Access to knowledgeable 14-Week coaches

What past participants have said about the 14-Week Program:

“I am a 62-year-old, T-5 paraplegic, female. This was just the exercise program I was looking for. I love the cardio workouts most of all! I am now moving and feeling so much better than before I started this program.”

“I thought the program was very good, especially for those who are intimidated by starting a program. It allows you to work at your own pace and you can see your progress as you gradually increase in strength and endurance. I had given up on exercising because of fibromyalgia pain but have found that movement actually helps me to feel better and it challenges me at the level I am currently at.”

“I have lived with MS for almost 30 years and the program provided me with the encouragement and incentive to get more active in accordance with my abilities.”

To join, please visit NCPAD and click join in the upper right hand corner.

By Tammy Hubbard, Advocacy Intern, The Ability Center of Greater Toledo

Booker Brown

“I am a 51-year-old African-American male. My home was originally in Cleveland, Ohio. However, I relocated to northwest Ohio due to the medical treatment that was available in this area. I was successfully transitioned into my own apartment at the end of June 2010.

“My diagnoses were obesity, hypertension, diabetes and lymphedema. This combination of conditions is why I was admitted into a nursing home. While I was regaining my health, I learned that my home in Cleveland was being foreclosed. Not wanting to become a burden to my friends and family, I decided to stay in the Gibsonburg area, which is where I was introduced to the HOME Choice program. I was thrilled to hear of this program because I knew that in the end it would mean I could move out of the nursing home facility.

“I looked at several rental options before signing the lease where I am. I signed the first lease that was available and probably should have waited a bit longer. Living on a fixed income with rising utility costs is a rough task to handle.

“The funds that I was provided through the HOME Choice program were very helpful. I used these funds for my deposit and first month’s rent. They also helped me get the furniture I needed as well as the movers to get the furniture to me. I just love the blankets, towels and various kitchen utensils I was able to buy with HOME Choice funds. I also loved the experience of shopping for them. Without the HOME Choice program I would have been in this apartment without anything. In fact, I probably would not even have this apartment!

“I am happy with the HOME Choice program. Tiffany Tierney the Community Support Coach from The Ability Center of Greater Toledo calls me each month to check on me. I think that is such a selfless and caring act for her to do. What a great program I was a part of!”

Peggy Cly – Living Independently for the First time Ever (In Her Own Words)

By Tammy Hubbard, Advocacy Intern, The Ability Center of Greater Toledo

Peggy Cly

“I am a 52-year-old female living in Gibsonburg, Ohio. Living on my own is something that I had never done until September 10, 2010. Thank you HOME Choice program, for allowing me to have this awesome experience! It is such a great feeling to know that I am doing this on my own. For the 14 months prior to September 2010 I had lived in a nursing facility.

“Coming into the nursing home I was not physically able to properly care for myself. I was cared for and given guidance to get to where I could, and I wanted out of the nursing home. When I first heard of the HOME Choice program, I was wowed to the fact that there was money available for me. I just was amazed that because I was in a nursing home, I got assistance. The thought of getting out was great. I was ready to leave all the rumors that went with living with other patients.

“The process seemed to roll along pretty smoothly for me. I did get discouraged at points when I was trying to get transportation to do what needed to get done. But just as easily as I got frustrated, solutions were found and I got where I needed to be. The HOME Choice program seemed to know how to work with me to make it happen.

“The funding that was available through the HOME Choice program was so helpful. When I first started thinking about going out on my own, I kept thinking, ‘I cannot do that, I don’t have monies for all the start ups.’ Then HOME Choice went to bat. It was able to help me with my first month’s rent and deposit for the apartment and also utility deposits. What a relief it was having those taken care of.

“Then I got the opportunity to go shopping and purchase the things I needed for my apartment. I remember going to the store and getting to pick out my groceries. I loved picking out my food, which I later was able to prepare the way I wanted. I am again thankful that the HOME Choice program was there to help me with that.

“My biggest accomplishment since getting into my own apartment is [to get] my cat. I recently was able to go to the Humane Society and adopt Jackilyn. She is a beautiful black-and-gray, short-haired tabby cat. I had fun naming my cat, and I ended up naming her after both of my parents. She brings joy to me every day. I also enjoy playing cards and watching television.

“I am so thankful for all of the help that I was given from the HOME Choice program. Being able to get in the community and staying close to friends and family is important to me, and I received Community Support Coach training that helped me to get things done that I would have otherwise procrastinated. I would get in a mood and it seemed like those were the days my Community Support Coach would be scheduled to come out. Tiffany Tierney was able to encourage me to accomplish a new challenge and that alone would bring me back up and positive again.

“I cannot say enough how beneficial the HOME Choice program was for me. I am so glad I was given that opportunity.”

Stories originally published in HOME Choice Newsletter (Summer 2011) (pdf)

Casey Arroyo, of CGA Home Modification, demonstrates lift system.

This year’s theme for the 11th Annual ADA Awareness Day at Toledo Zoo was “In welcoming communities citizens look out for one another.” The need to create a welcoming community is a primary goal of The Ability Center of Greater Toledo. Everyone should have access to the community they live in. This goal is also one of the reasons The Ability Center hosts the annual information fair at the Toledo Zoo.

Vendors from all over the region participated in this important annual community event. While this event is an opportunity for vendors to provide information on their services and products, the ADA Awareness Day is also a chance for individuals with disabilities in our community to learn about local and regional resources. Sometimes just seeing a piece of machinery on display and in-use can profoundly affect the way an individual with a disability maintains independence.

The Ability Center appreciates every organization the participated in the event this, as well as the assistance of the great staff at Toledo Zoo, particularly, Jen Brassil, Special Events Coordinator.

Below are several photos from the event. For more photos, please visit The Ability Center’s Facebook page. Please leave your comments regarding the  event. The center welcomes your input!

This marks The Ability Center’s (ACT) fifth year of collaborating with the Catholic HEART Work Camp (CHWC). Together we landscaped and performed various other beautification projects at the Center. The group also helped construct wheelchair ramps and even painted a garage for one of the Center’s consumers. We typically had one or two groups of 5 to 7 people working with The Ability Center’s experienced staff to get the jobs done. This year, the group along with ACT’s carpenters, constructed 2 wheelchair ramps. One for Ernest C., a double amputee and the other for John B. who recently started using a wheelchair due to deteriorating health.  ACT had another great year collaborating with CHWC and making some new friends.

To find out more about the Catholic HEART Work Camp, please visit their website. To learn more about how to apply for a ramp, visit the Home Modification Program page, or call the center at (419) 885-5733. You can also view more photos on Facebook.

Upon hearing the news that my newborn baby had Spina Bifida, I chose deal with it by fighting for a chance at normalcy. I recognized that it was imperative for me to nurture and take care of this little life, whose challenges would be many and great

As a parent, I knew that I had to create a loving and nurturing environment for a child other would see as “different”. The most important thing I learned was to never, ever give up in my resolve to treat him as though he were perfect. To me, he was perfect.

At the time my son Peter was born, I had a toddler at home. Having a child already made it easy for me to include Peter in childhood activities. I enrolled both children in community activities and treated Peter as if he were not born with Spina Bifida. I made sure he did everything his sister did, except become a Brownie. Instead, he was a Boy Scout. I made sure that he only felt “special” because I love him and because he is wonderful.

When Peter was at home and under my wing, he was a normal child. It was when he went to school, that I found it even more important to remain involved and to be his biggest supporter. As Peter got older, my role seemed to change. I had to be his advocate and protector. I was a strong voice in his corner. I was his champion…and he was mine.

As I watched him grow up and go to school, I realized that there was a need for awareness and acceptance in the community. All children, because they are in the process of discovery, should be included and encouraged to feel “whole.” It is hard for children with disabilities to feel that way when no one wants to include them in childhood activities. It was, and is, my strong belief that we must encourage children who are not familiar with disabilities to recognize that everyone has value and purpose.

As Peter grew, a story began to develop in my heart about the importance of awareness, kindness and acceptance in the lives of children with disabilities. I kept that story inside for many years, now I want to share it with everyone. My blessing is Peter. He gives me a special purpose and his experiences give me a story to tell – a story to help make the world a better place. I like to refer to this story as Peter’s Promise – a promise I made to him to “include” him in life’s journey and make him feel “whole”.

By Rogill L. Anderson-Clute is the author of Who Will Hold the Lemonade?, a book about her life as the parent of a child with a disability. Her book is published by Steuben Press and available through Amazon.com.

Some people’s diets greatly affect them, while others suffer no consequences for eating all of the wrong things. Fortunately, or unfortunately (depending upon how you look at it), I fell into the former category and as a result managed to improve my life by changing my diet. I’ll tell you my story, and then you might look into some dietary changes too.

First, some background: I’m a 42 year-old male, happily married (more about that in a minute), employed on a full-time basis, and a person with Friedreich’s Ataxia or FA. A progressive neurological disorder, FA slowly steals some of the physical aspects of life that many people take for granted, like walking, talking, or hearing, to name a few. There are also more serious problems, as FA affects all the muscles in the body and, of course, the heart is a muscle.

Anyway, back to me. As I said, I’m happily married. My wife, who has a C4 spinal cord injury due to of a diving accident over 25 years ago, started seeing a nutritionist at the Center for Integrative Medicine at the George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, DC a number of years ago because of gastrointestinal issues.

My wife’s nutritionist put her on a series of supplements, as well as a gluten-free and sugar-free diet. The dietary changes had positive results. Because my wife spoke so highly of her nutritionist and the positive outcomes of many of her dietary changes, I decided to see her nutritionist.

I began seeing the nutritionist, and I am very thankful that I did. At my first appointment, she had me do a few tests, as well as relate my daily food and vitamin intake. She told me that my diet suggested a lack of certain vitamins and she told me what I should try taking. She likewise directed me to take a couple other tests (that could be done at home as opposed to a hospital) so she could further refine my list of needed supplements.

So, for the last couple of years I’ve been taking things that I never heard of before; things like pantothenic acid, inositol, and cyanocobalamin. During that time, I noticed a significant positive change in my body in general, my energy level, my digestive system, and other aspects of my life!

The changes in my diet were not just adding things, but also taking away things. I cut back on my sugar intake and my gluten intake; neither of them is completely out of my diet, but I consume MUCH less of both of them. I understand that both sugar and gluten can act as “agitators” in your system and, in large amounts, cause problems.

The other change I made was to eat and drink something before going to bed. In my case I have a fiber/granola bar and some form of vitamin water. I do feel like this helps me to sleep and wake up easier; I also get a better start to the day.

Of course, dietary changes are not changes you should make yourself without consulting a nutritionist and/or doctor. But those changes, even though they take self-discipline and may take a while to show positive effects, can really improve the quality of your life.

By Tony Trott is a Peer Mentor at ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia

Joe Monks of Sight Unseen Pictures

Let me get this out of the way. I’m blind. Not legally blind, not visually impaired, not optically challenged. The lights are out. My life is lived in total darkness. When I announced, via a press release, that I was moving from the field of comic book and prose writing into film-making, it took people by surprise. A blind filmmaker? The notion confounded people. Some scoffed. Some offered encouragement. Some posted publicly, telling me that what I was doing was idiotic, or doomed to fail. Why wasn’t I doing the smart thing, and sticking to writing?

All fair points. Honest responses. I didn’t blame the naysayers-not then. I thought I could prove them wrong, but until I did, it was all a matter of opinion. Not fact. So I planned. I worked. I researched. I came up with work-arounds to meet the challenges I would face. For months, to put it bluntly, I busted my ass to make sure I was as prepared as I could be to do what many considered impossible-to direct a feature film.

In 2007, my film, The Bunker, screened at its first film festival, to overwhelmingly positive reviews. The movie has received offers for distribution, both foreign and domestic. I’ve been interviewed dozens of times, for magazines and newspapers, on the radio, internet and television. What the process of making a feature film gave me, though, went beyond a spiffy media story and soon-to-be released DVD. It gave me some perspective and insight on how those of us with disabilities need to go after what we want, especially in terms of employment.

You know, I’ve heard all the politically correct terms you can imagine. Difabled for differently abled, handi-capable, etc. But let’s not kid ourselves. If one of us is looking for a job, more often than not, we’re undertaking an uphill climb. Sure, any want ad can proclaim EOE, but the reality is, if one of us wheels into the office or cane-travels to the opposite side of the interviewer’s desk, we can’t simply rely on a decent skill set. We need to be able to overcome a potential employer’s concerns-whether or not those concerns are merited.

When I scheduled my first cast and crew meeting, I had one of the flats for my main set, which I built myself. I made handouts for people, copies of the script with my copious director’s notes. In my head, I knew that the lure of doing an indie film was enough for most people to come on board. But in my heart, I knew people would be skeptical. Some would have trouble wrapping their head around a director who couldn’t see the product he was producing.
I didn’t mind that. In fact, I embraced it. I understood those concerns, because I had them myself. And, I knew that I would need people who believed in the film, if I was going to assemble a cast and crew who could succeed. So, I had something to show them. I had a plan. Something tangible, a vision which I could share with them. Enough, I hoped, to convince them that yes, I could do this.

I think that’s important. I think those of us with disabilities who interview for jobs need to have something in hand, something concrete, to put on display. If you’re looking for an accounting gig, bring your laptop. Show off how easy it is for you to work with spreadsheets using a screen reader. Find out in advance what software the firm uses, and download some samples. Wow the person on the other side of the desk. I remember going over with my script supervisor how I used JAWS to write my screenplays. How the program enabled me to zip through e-mails and hop onto the internet and do my film research pretty much like any sighted filmmaker would. I sold my cast and crew on my abilities by having tangible examples to show them, and I think that’s exactly the kind of thing we need to do in order to overcome skepticism about our abilities.

The second thing that I had was self-confidence. I used to be sighted. I used to be a hockey player, and I captained many a team. I brought that experience with me into the film. Leading can only be done one way-by example. You need to show people how it’s done by how you do it. Be confident. If you’re sitting in a room with other job candidates, keep in mind, you circled that want ad or clicked on it online and responded not because you didn’t think you could do the job, but because you knew you could despite being wheelchair user, or blind, or deaf, etc. Otherwise, admit it–you wouldn’t have bothered showing up for the interview. None of us likes to be embarrassed, so recognize what you’ve got going for you. Go in confident-not cocky-knowing that you’re not there to convince a potential employer they should hire you, but rather, that your new boss can’t possibly hire anyone else.

Life deals us different cards, and sometimes they’re lousy. That being said, not all lousy hands lose the pot. Sometimes, you just need to bluff, and pretend you’ve got a handful of aces, because trust me, nobody under performs at a job interview and winds up getting hired. A lot of us don’t even try, and that’s unforgivable. If there’s something you know you can do, and you want to do it, then go ahead and make it happen. Have bullets in your gun, and the demeanor of the gunslinger. I made people want to be involved with my film not just because they believed in the project, but because they believed in me as well. Ali was right. Impossible is an opinion, nothing more. Impossible happens all the time. If you think going after the job you want is impossible because of your disability? Sorry, you’re fooling yourself. Only one person can ensure something is impossible. It only takes a mirror to expose that individual.

Joseph M. Monks has been writing horror fiction professionally for more than two decades. Since losing his eyesight, he has branched out into screenwriting, and is the world’s first blind feature film director. His work can be found at Sight Unseen Pictures.

Post title is an original quote from Muhammad Ali.

One out of every five Americans or 20% of our population has a disability. Research has found that the number of health disparities increases significantly in those individuals with disabilities when compared to the general population, individuals with disabilities often have a much higher rate of obesity in both children and adults and 87% experience at least one secondary condition.

There is a critical need to increase participation in physical activity for everyone, this we already know. Physical activity improves cardiovascular and muscular fitness, mental health, and the ability to perform activities of daily living. Though I hope it’s of no surprise, this holds true for everyone. For the most part, the physical activity guidelines for people with disabilities are very similar to the guidelines designated for “active” adults. These guidelines suggest adults should do 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week, or an equivalent combination of moderate-and vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity. Research suggests performing muscle-strengthening activities that involve major muscle groups performed on 2 or more days per week. The major difference seems to be the incorporation of the phrase “who are able to” into the specific recommendations as well as the removal of the suggestion that individuals should continue to increase or progress activity to reap even further health benefits. There is also an added recommendation for people with disabilities to consult a health-care provider prior to exercising.

But how do you find out how and where to exercise if (for example) you have a spinal cord injury and the only person that you have ever seen for exercise (physical therapy) is at the rehabilitation hospital? In addition, your local gym doesn’t offer easily accessible equipment or staff members who seem comfortable with your disability. Moreover, you have trouble finding proper transportation to and from your local fitness facility. That doesn’t make it sound so easy, does it?

People with disabilities may find more difficulty than most in meeting the recommended Physical Activity Guidelines based on the barriers they may face. Barriers can be architectural (no curb cut), programmatic (chairs are not available in classes), or attitudinal (assumptions based on a diagnosis). In order to overcome these barriers and incorporate physical activity into our everyday lives it is imperative to find the proper resources that will allow you to do so in a safe and effective manner. The added benefits that we ALL receive from physical activity can significantly reduce our risk for obesity, improve activities of daily living and help fend off those secondary conditions. For more information and for assistance in finding programs in your area please visit the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability.

Jennifer Green, BS in Health Fitness and Rehabilitative and Preventative Programs, MS in Clinical Exercise Physiology, is an Information Specialist at NCPAD in the Department of Disability and Human Development at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Jennifer creates and provides fact/information sheets and videos focused on inclusion: adapting physical activity training and program, making fitness centers more inclusive, etc. She is the author of the monthly NCPAD News column, “The Training Corner,” written for fitness professionals who work with individuals with various disabilities and chronic conditions.

If you, or someone in your family has disability and wants to be more active in your community, please contact The Ability Center’s Community Inclusion Program.

If you are caring for someone with a disability, it can be an incredibly stressful time. You may need to deal with many issues at once, all of which can send your tension levels through the roof. Stress has a wide range of effects on the human body. Chronic stress can cause us to become more susceptible to illness, interrupts sleep patterns, and even leads to depression. By learning how to minimize stress levels, caregivers can often escape its detrimental effects.

So, here are a few tips on how to minimize the stress in your day-to-day life as a caregiver.

Admit You’re Stressed

One of the reasons stress negatively affects most people is the failure to realize when they reach a breaking point. If we simply acknowledge the stress we feel over our situation, what others’ expect of us, and the level of responsibility we have, it can actually help diffuse some of the tension.

Take Time for Yourself

Taking time for yourself, may seem difficult if you think in terms of large blocks of time. It is true that if we are the primary caregiver for people with disabilities or the elderly, it can be difficult to find time for ourselves. However, even taking an hour for ourselves a few times a week can help us relax and face our responsibilities with a much clearer head. If you have an interest outside of being a caregiver, pursue it, even consider taking a class or picking up a new hobby.

Get Some Assistance

It is often possible to get some assistance so that the duties of a caregiver are not completely on your shoulders. If you are able to enlist other family members, or part-time help, you may be able to relieve some of your stress and responsibility without it being prohibitively expensive. There may even be help available through community programs, so it is something you should definitely look into to find out more information.

Get Enough Sleep

It can be difficult to get enough sleep when we are feeling stressed. However if we are fatigued, this can make the situation worse. Sleep deprivation negatively influences how we deal with stress and the more you experience stress, less you sleep and the harder it is to cope with stress. It becomes a vicious circle.

Don’t Lose Human Contact

Many caregivers report that the one thing they miss most about their old lives is the contact they had with the outside world. Losing contact with friends and family members can be devastating and can lead to feelings of being stressed-out or overwhelmed. One excellent way to maintain ties to the outside world is through a support group. Also, creating time for a weekly phone call with family and friends can dramatically change your mood and lift your spirits.

Taking on the role of caregiver can dramatically affect the weight one carries on their shoulder. By following a these tips, you can dramatically reduce the stress in your daily life and become a better caregiver in the process.

Cole writes on behalf of AmeriGlide, a recognized leader in stair lifts, vertical lifts, and wheelchair lifts on the Internet. Based in Raleigh North Carolina, AmeriGlide is dedicated to providing top quality medical equipment, while serving the needs of their customers.

If you, or someone in your family received a recent disability diagnosis and want to get back into your community, please contact The Ability Center’s Community Inclusion Program.

I’ve been working in the disability rights field for seven years and have been in the “business” of disability since I was born with the congenital disability of severe bilateral club feet. My parents never told me “you can’t” when it came to my disability, in fact they didn’t even call it a disability. My parents expected me to do my best, to leverage my abilities above my inabilities, to shoot for the stars.

Image courtesy of Easter Seals Society

When I was eight, I wanted to shoot for the stars, literally. I wanted to be an Astronaut, but as my parents knew (and I would learn) I could not ever physically be an Astronaut. I was redirected and encouraged to be an astronomer, if that’s what I loved. The tone was not “you can’t” it was encouragement with a healthy dose of reality. My parents raised to take life head on.

As the picture in this post says, “sometimes the worst thing about having a disability is that people meet it before they meet you.” For those of us with physical or mental limitations, the world is filled with “Negative Nancys”. You can’t, you shouldn’t, it’s not safe, you better not, you’ll fail.

That’s why I like my job so much. The Independent Living movement is a disability-lead, grass-roots shout out of “yes I can”. It’s a shout against the attitude that society has held for hundreds of year that says “you can’t”. Ed Roberts, the father of the Independent Living movement, asked his state Vocational Rehabilitation agency to pay for college, so he could get a job. They told him you shouldn’t go to college and you can’t work, they said he was too disabled to ever work. He later became the director of the same statewide Vocational Rehabilitation agency that told him “you can’t”.

Sometimes even those who are supposed to be the professionals and ones helping us through life are filled with the “you can’t” attitude. Somewhere along the way, they forgot. They forgot to meet the person and instead are only seeing the disability. We need to remind them, “Yes, I Can!” As happy as it makes me feel to be the first person ever to tell a parent of a child with a disability that their child CAN live independently… I wish that parent didn’t have to wait eighteen or twenty-five years to hear it from somebody.

I’ll say it again. I’d like to take the dis- out of disability. I want the non-disabled population to realize that the real “disability” is attitude and we are only “handicapped” by the inaccessibility of world around us, the stairs, the lack of interpreters, the lack of equal access and equal opportunity. Every time people with disabilities are treated as an afterthought by society, the disability is society’s… and sometimes I do meet that social disability before I meet you.

Keith Hosey, Associate Director of the Center for Accessible Living in Louisville, Kentucky.