Product Description:
In the 2nd edition of the Exercise and nutrition health education curriculum for adults with developmental disabilities, we revised all of the nutrition sessions based on our teaching experiences with participants in the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Health Promotion Program. In response to our ongoing work with participants, we have updated this curriculum with more nutrition information to increase participants' understanding of concepts related to nutrition and disability.
This innovative curriculum is a 12-week interactive program specifically designed for individuals with developmental disabilities (DD). Each week, participants enjoy three 1-hour sessions, where they are encouraged to understand their attitudes toward health, food and exercise; to gain skills and knowledge about healthy eating and exercising; to identify food and exercise preferences; to participate in food preparation and exercise activities; and, to locate places in their community where they can exercise regularly. Strategies that are woven throughout this curriculum include making choices, self-determination, self-efficacy, self-advocacy, and rights and responsibility, along with problem-solving techniques and conflict resolution. Direct staff or health professionals can easily adapt the curriculum to meet the unique needs and capacities of individuals with DD and their agencies. The RRTC-ADD can provide regional train-the-trainer sessions for agencies or groups to familiarize facilitators with the curriculum philosophy, goals and training materials. Training session(s) simulate experiences similar to the actual health education program. Trainers-in-training are encouraged to complete exercises that they will ask future participants to do.
