Health promotion for individuals with disabilities - The need for a transitional model in service delivery

Health promotion programs that are offered in the general community often present physical, attitudinal and knowledge barriers that limit participation by those with disabilities. These environmental barriers and the lack of information on how to overcome them snake it difficult for individuals with disabilities to engage in health-promoting behaviors. This paper presents a brief overview of health promotion for individuals with disabilities in the areas of exercise, nutrition and health education, and describes a service delivery model that addresses the needs of this important subgroup. The primary emphasis of the model is to provide instructional guidance to those with disabilities in the supportive transitional setting that will assist them in overcoming environmental barriers to participation in their community (i.e. home or wellness facility). The supportive transitional setting is used to empower people with disabilities to adopt healthier lifestyles and manage various secondary conditions related to their disability (e.g. fatigue, weakness, and pain). A sample program conducted in this setting is described.