Tomorrow is the start of American Heart Month! According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), heart disease is the leading cause of death for people in the United States. Studies have shown that people with disabilities are just as likely to be impacted by heart disease as people without disabilities. However, people with disabilities may be at higher risk for several reasons. They may have mobility or cognitive disabilities which make it difficult to get physical activity or focus on other healthy behaviors, leading to obesity and related conditions. They may also experience environmental barriers like limited access to inclusive recreation or exercise facilities or stores with healthy food options.

Throughout the month, agencies like the NIH and organizations like the American Heart Association will be raising awareness about the heart-healthy actions we can take to protect #OurHearts from heart disease. Even small steps like adding a little more movement to your day or swapping a food choice can help reduce one’s risk of heart disease. We’ve gathered some resources from the NIDILRR grantee community which may help people with disabilities and their families find ways to integrate those heart-healthy behaviors into their daily lives.

• The Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center offers research-based information resources in English and Spanish for people with spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and burn injury, including:
  • Adaptive recreation and sports
  • Exercise and fitness after SCI
  • Nutrition and SCI
  • Staying healthy after TBI
  • Healthy eating after burn injury for adults and kids
  • Exercise after burn injury
• The Spaulding New England Regional SCI Center (SNERSCIC) offers the New England SCI Toolkit which presents healthcare providers with the information they need to support the health of their patients with SCI.
• The SNERSCIC also produced this Knowledge in Motion webinar on Living Healthy with SCI, with segments on the importance of exercise to cardiovascular health, accessing opportunities for sport and exercise, good nutrition, and sexual health.
• The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Community Living and Participation of Individuals with Serious Mental Illnesses has a collection of resources to add physical activity and opportunities for recreation and leisure into one’s personal and family life.
• The Healthy Community Living program offers trainings developed under several NIDILRR grants to organizations, such as centers for independent living, and individuals to support  people with disabilities to live and participate fully in their communities.
• The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center Investigating Disability factors and promoting Environmental Access for healthy Living Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (IDEAL RRTC) maintains the National Resource Center for Aging with Disability with a searchable database of resources including health management and nutrition. This collection also includes information on health policies impacting people aging with disabilities.
• The HealthMatters Program, also developed and tested with the support of NIDILRR grants, supports the health and wellness of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program has many facets, including the HealthMessages program, where peer health coaches support their mentors in integrating healthy behaviors into their everyday lives. We highlighted research on this program in our Research In Focus series!

More resources are available from these organizations and agencies:

• National Center on Health, Physical Activity, and Disability
• Disability, Health, and Well-Being from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Resources for paralysis and health from the National Paralysis Resource Center
• Healthy Living resources from Healthfinder.gov