Course Description
People with developmental disabilities (DD) have rates of obesity greater than the general population. They often have poor eating, sleep, and exercise habits. Along with poor health habits, this group also experiences a high prevalence of chronic health problems: cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Despite the compelling need for healthy lifestyle programs for this population, few research-based programs have been developed. There is a compelling need for practical, engaging and easy to implement tools to support healthy physical well-being for adults with DD and the people who support them.
The Healthy Eating and Lifestyle Program (HELP) is designed to provide an effective and practically useful approach to a healthy lifestyle for adults who have DD and their caregivers - parents, foster parents, direct support staff, and personal agents. HELP draws from studies of the most effective behavioral programs specifically designed for adults who have DD, focusing on three of the most significant factors of an individual’s health: healthy eating, effective sleep management, and adequate physical activity.
This program consists of three modules – the first module is for the caregiver and the next two modules are to be done together by both the caregiver and the individual with DD: (1) Introduction – for the caregiver, (2) Healthy Lifestyle and Habits, and (3) Habits and Change.
Individuals with DD and their caregivers will also learn and practice mindfulness. Mindfulness, or being present, is simply paying attention to what is happening right now. What is happening inside of us -- our thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations. And paying attention to what is around us – what we see, what we hear, what we smell, what we taste, what we feel. The learning exercises in these three modules will provide a set of basic habit formation skills that are complete in and of themselves.They will provide a strong foundation for developing new and healthy habits.
Martin R. Sheehan, Ph.D.
I am the owner of Double S Instructional Systems and have received federal funding for over 20 National Institutes of Health Small Business grant projects. I have developed instructional programs on dangerous drug prevention, nutrition, weight loss and exercise, leisure, future planning, stress reduction, anger management, and abuse prevention for people with developmental disabilities and their support providers. For 12 years I worked first as a teacher and then as an administrator in charge of programs for high school students with developmental disabilities. At that time, I supervised classrooms for students with autism and other developmental disabilities. I ran a foster care home for individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities for seven years. I also worked as a consultant for group homes helping staff with adults with disabilities who had a range of anger management problems. I am the coauthor of Managing the Cycle of Meltdowns for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. I have worked as a therapist for a local counseling center and specialized in helping individuals with a variety of mental health problems. I am a certified DIR "Floortime" Provider and hold an adult education teaching certificate. I currently provide training to individuals with developmental disabilities, parents, care providers, and professionals-- helping them to adopt a healthier lifestyle and also helping them manage their stress by using mindfulness techniques.
Curriculum
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