Governor’s Disability Policy Summit
Lakeshore hosted the Governor’s Disability Policy Summit on June 18, 2024. The Summit brought together members of local communities to share their experiences and offer valuable insight on critical issues that impact our state. Three themed sessions covered six major topics over the course of the day including employment, transportation, housing, healthcare, education and civic engagement. After the conclusion of the summit, feedback was collected from attendees which was used to created a detailed report highlighting the main issues discussed by panelists and attendees and offering recommendations to policy makers to enhance the support and resources available for individuals with disabilities. You can rewatch all the sessions from the summit and read the report to learn more about topics discussed.
WATCH SESSION RECORDINGS READ THE REPORT
100 Alabama Miles Challenge
Lakeshore is a proud partner of the 100 Alabama Miles Challenge, which encourages all Alabamians to record 100 miles of physical activity this year by visiting Alabama’s parks, nature preserves and rivers. This initiative provides opportunities for all Alabamians to be active and part of a community. Communities with trails and sidewalks are walkable and bikeable places where people can get outside and interact with each other. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 42 percent of Alabama adults with disabilities are inactive. The 100 Alabama Miles Challenge will benefit public health, strengthen our sense of community, enhance our quality of life, and support economic development.
Durable Medical Equipment Access
Lakeshore’s policy and public affairs department is working to bridge the gap between durable medical equipment (DME) providers and people who use DME. A diverse group of men and women who use DME as well as parents of individuals with disabilities participated in four small focus groups to discuss their experiences obtaining DME. The information gathered will assist in generating a dialogue between DME users and those who inadvertently create barriers to DME use.
Universal Trail Access Project
Lakeshore, in partnership with the Alabama Trails Commission, was awarded a grant from the Recreational Trails Program funded by the U. S. Department of Transportation and a grant funded by the Curtis & Edith Munson Foundation to conduct a pilot program at Oak Mountain State Park. The pilot included the purchase of state of the art trail measurement technology, assessment of 32 miles of pedestrian trails, implementation of Trail Access Information signage throughout the park, and training of professionals and user groups on the Universal Trail Assessment Process. Now, Oak Mountain State Park features 40 signs that serve as nutritional labels for the trails, marking grade, elevation changes, width of pathways and surface hardness. People of all ability levels can use these signs to determine the accessibility of the trails and choose which will be best for their hike. Lakeshore is aiming to train more Universal Trail Assessors and spread this pilot to other trails and parks across the state.
Design 4 Disability
Lakeshore desires to eliminate the barriers to physical activity participation by working locally to support improved accessible public transportation options. In order to help promote these efforts Lakeshore received a grant from the National Center for Mobility Management. With this grant we hosted two Charrettes. The first brought together 15 agencies and three transportation providers to examine the needs of people with a disability. In the second Charrette, stakeholders with disability met to discuss ways to improve access to health and transportation in their local area.
COVID-19 Disability Community Needs Assessment Report
Lakeshore Foundation and the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD), initiated a survey to explore current needs of people with disabilities and/or chronic health conditions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey was released online over a two-week period from April 2, 2020 through April 17, 2020 targeting people with disabilities and/or chronic health conditions and those who are family members or caregivers. A national representation of over 1,400 people resulted in findings consistent with public health evidence showing the disability community continues to see critical, unmet needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inclusive Language
Language is always evolving. This article provides perspectives on both person-first language and identity-first language to empower you to make informed and inclusive language choices. Within the disability community or the disabled community, there is currently a robust landscape related to language. This article emphasizes taking in available information so that you can refer to people with disability or disabled people inclusively.
Active Schools and Lakeshore-NCHPAD Release Inclusive Physical Education and Activity Survey Report
Active Schools, in collaboration with Lakeshore Foundation-NCHPAD, issued a Survey of Providing Inclusive Physical Education and Physical Activity and Meeting the Needs of Students with Disabilities to Active Schools’ champions who identified themselves as a PE teacher. The purpose of this needs assessment was to identify current practices and needs to providing inclusive PE among teachers. The survey addressed participation levels, class strategies, after school programs, certifications, support, teacher preparation and the built environment. Click the link below to learn more about the current state of inclusive PE and physical activity while exploring conclusions and recommendations that provide opportunities for improvement.
Women With Disability in Sport Roundtable: A Follow Up
In the spring of 2016, 30 women from 14 states and two different countries were invited to Lakeshore for the Women with Disability in Sport Roundtable to gather qualitative data surrounding the needs of women with disabilities in sport. The diverse group of female athletes with a disability and those who work within the field of adapted sport began a dialogue and worked across specific content areas to generate common themes as well as highlight gaps within the sports movement. One of the participants was Sarah Goldman. Fresh out of college, Sarah was embarking on her professional career. Read about where Sarah is now and how she is advocating for people with disabilities in Florida.
