Disability inclusion means understanding the relationship between how people function and how they participate in society and ensuring everybody has the same opportunities to participate in every aspect of life to the best of their abilities and desires. In an effort to effectively spread awareness and foster inclusion, each month we commemorate and share Disability Awareness information, resources, and celebrations.
August is National Wellness Month! We’re committing to developing a healthy lifestyle & ditching bad eating habits. Join us by following these steps to start your journey to wellness:
- Try eating more fruits & veggies daily. The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) says, that “increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables is important for increasing the quality and years of healthy life for all Tennesseans.”
- Drink plenty of water. The YMCA of Middle Tennessee suggests drinking at least 64 ounces of water each day. They even have a Water Challenge and a Water Tracker you can try.
- Reduce saturated fats and processed foods. TDH has a helpful quiz on fats and oils. We jumped right to the answer key, to help you make wise choices.
- Get lots of REST! The University of Tennessee Knoxville Center for Health Education and Wellness has provided some Tips for Better Sleep.
Resources:
Tennessee Department of Health, BRFSS Fact Sheet and How Much Do You Know About Fats and Oils?
YMCA Middle Tennessee, 30-DAY WATER CHALLENGE
University of Tennessee Knoxville Center for Health Education and Wellness, Sleep.
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Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord and impacts the muscles used for activities such as breathing, eating, crawling, and walking. The month of August is SMA Awareness Month in which we strive to raise awareness of the condition caused by the deficiency of a motor neuron protein called SMN and other rare forms of SMA that stem from chromosome mutations. To find out more about SMA check out this SMA Tennessee Fact Sheet.
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Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis is a severe life threatening adverse reaction which can be triggered by almost any medication and in some instances viral infections.
Symptoms can include:
– Painful blistering of the skin and mucous membrane involvement.
– In many cases preceded with flu like symptoms and high fever.
– As it evolves the skin literally sloughs off.
– Ocular involvement includes severe conjunctivis, iritis, palpebral edema, conjunctival and corneal blisters and erosions, and corneal perforation.
Almost any DRUG can cause SJS/TEN, including over the counter drugs. To find out more about SJS click here.
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National Senior Citizens Day, is celebrated on August 21st. It is a day to let the older adults in your life know how much you care about them and it’s an opportunity to recognize their accomplishments. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed this holiday to raise awareness about issues that affect senior citizens and their quality of life.
We celebrate our older Tennesseans on this day and everyday. We honor them and their stories, their wisdom and full lives they’ve lived!
For information on resource to assist the older adult in your life, contact us at 1-800-640-4636. We’re happy to help them on their journey.