HealthMatters™ Program (HMP) engages community and academic partners to implement health promoting policies and practices for people with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) – reaching over 10,000 individuals and caregivers in 33 states and 9 countries.
People in the HealthMatters Program see results that matter!
- In 1998, working with community based organizations (CBOs) providing day/residential services for people with IDD, UIC launched a university-based exercise and health education clinical trial for adults aging with IDD.
- This study produced significant psychosocial and physical health outcomes (efficacy) using the evidence-based curriculum entitled Health Matters: The Exercise and Nutrition Health Education Curriculum for Adults with Developmental Disabilities published by Brookes Publishing Co.
- The HealthMatters Curriculum incorporates the concepts of choice, self-determination, self-efficacy, self-advocacy, and rights.
- In 2002, we began partnering with a variety of community partners on multiple health-related studies to evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of health-related and health promotion programs in the communities where people with IDD live, work, and recreate. The HealthMatters Program: Train-the-Trainer Instructor’s Course launched in 2003 through 2008.
- This study showed significant improvements in psychosocial and physiological health status, knowledge and self-efficacy, and fitness.
- Results support the efficacy of a health promotion program in CBOs to improve health among adults with IDD.
With a culture of health, people with IDD and their supports can acquire information to manage and improve their health and health outcomes.