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The young woman at right is a very successful recent graduate of special education. She has a job, attends activities in the community, including occasional classes at the community college that are available for adults with developmental disabilities. She has friends that she meets during lunch and work breaks. So, why are we concerned about her and others like her?
In the 1900s, a woman in North Dakota had a life expectancy of thirty-five. Since then, our lifespan has more than doubled - until now. This may be the first generation to have shorter lives than their parents. |
Over 40% of years of life lost are due to lifestyle factors - smoking, poor eating habits, not enough exercise and drinking. While we discuss alcoholism and, less often, smoking, at great length on the reservations, much less attention is paid to obesity, which contributes to heart disease, arthritis, diabetes and stroke. Not only is being overweight and not physically active more common among people with disabilities, but it is also a major concern because it can cause additional disabilities. For example, a person who has mental retardation and is very overweight is at high risk of diabetes, just like a person without mental retardation. However, the daily routine of monitoring blood sugar, taking insulin and so on is going to be a lot harder for a person who already has a mental disability.
The young woman above, wearing a Budweiser jacket and drinking a Pepsi is a pretty typical recent high school graduate. What could possibly be wrong with that? For years, people with disabilities and their families just wanted a "normal" life, the chance to do what other people did - go to school, go to parties, get a job, relax with friends. The problem is that all of us have begun living a less healthy lifestyle.
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Next: What is causing our health problems and how we can fix them |