Health & Safety

When you do a health evaluation think of the things they would ask.  How many times a week do you exercise, how many glasses of water do you drink a day, do you smoke, and many other similar questions may be asked.  What about safety, think of the regular routine you have on campus. Do you think about the people and things in your surroundings, what about transportation on the shuttle, or even what time of day it is that you are walking on campus.  It is obvious when you think about these questions that health and safety are a part of all of our lives.

Now think about the questions and thoughts you may have in health and safety if you were disabled in some way.  What about if you had to think about if you remember where you are and where you are going, or if you remember the traffic laws when crossing the street.  If you were handicap, how would you get your cardiovascular exercise in when you are not able to leave a wheelchair? 

There are many more elements to these topics when you have disabilities.  Consider when you live alone who you would call or what you would do when you are sick.  Most likely you would go to the store and get medicine, or call the doctor and let him know your symptoms and possibly get a subscription.  Individuals with disabilities may have trouble knowing what to do, who to call, or even have trouble with transportation to get the help they need.  It is concerns like this that cause health and safety to be a major concern for these students.

Web resources:

http://www.kidpower.org/SERVICES/Special-Needs.html

-  This website provides information on safety for those individuals with disabilities.  They help identify the strengths and then practice the strengths to increase their safety practices.  In addition, they have several workshops available to persons with disabilities.

http://www.soflduval.org/

-  Special Olympics offer a chance to build confidence, develop friendships, socialize, and to get exercise and demonstrate their abilities.  This website provides information to Florida (Duval) residents.  This is a great way to help these individuals increase their physical fitness, and participate in friendly competition.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/disability/guidance.htm

-  This is a great resource to have as both an employee with disabilities or an employer of a disabled person.  It provides a list of responsibilities to keep safe in the work place, and also information on "risk assessment".  Also, how you can advocate about adjustments that can made and resources to make use of.

http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/sgr/disab.htm

-  Center for Disease Control (CDC) provides general information and facts about individuals with disabilities and physical activity.  They also have recommendations for communities to promote and get involved in increasing their activity.  Also, they provide a list of benefits of being active for these individuals.