I should begin by introducing myself; my name is Katelyn Bollenbacher and I am the new Program Manager for Best Buddies California in the Bay Area. I come from three years of Best Buddies experience as I was the president of the University of San Francisco chapter, as well as six years of working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities prior to that. Throughout the next year, a large portion of my work will be in expanding the Best Buddies mission to four new middle schools and eight new high schools, along with working with the already developed high school and college chapters. I am so excited to continue to be apart of Best Buddies because it truly bridges the segregation between people with and without disabilities.
In the midst of filling out paper work and reading manuals in my first week as Program Manager for Best Buddies, something amazing happened. On my first day of work, abilitypath.org released a report on obesity in children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. You may be asking why something with such terrifying statistics excites me. With a degree in Exercise and Sport Science from USF, it was always frustrating to me that people with IDD were left out of the many studies that were covered in my classes. Obesity in minorities such as women, African Americans, and Hispanics were covered, but people with IDD were not. In my experience working with people with IDD it was evident to me that they are affected just as much with being overweight or obese as typically developing people are. With the help of Best Buddies, this report was possible, and I am ecstatic to see this step forward. I am thrilled to now work in an organization that continually works along side other organizations to make social change. It is exciting to me that people with IDD are now being included in these statistics.
With obesity levels being high in the United States, we need to make change in order to see change. The effort of Best Buddies in this report means that our programs need to promote change as well. In our Friendships program at high schools and colleges, we can easily promote healthy living by providing activities that promote physical activity; for example dancing or playing leisure sports like wiffle ball or soccer, and providing foods that promote healthy living. Let’s trade the sedentary activities for physical activity and the cookies for veggies! We can make a difference in our buddies and in ourselves.
You too can read the report at: http://www.abilitypath.org/health-daily-care/health/growth-and-nutrition/articles/obesity/obesity-special-needs-overview.html
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