NFB of Colorado Getting Healthy

NFB of Colorado Getting Healthy

Join the Movement

By Kevan Worley

The state of Colorado has the lowest rate of obesity in the nation. There are many state programs and non-profits working on initiatives and policies to keep it that way, and lower it even still. People who are blind are a cross-section of society. We too must care about quality of life, improving health, and lowering healthcare costs. There are some indicators which suggest that obesity reduces employment opportunities for people who are blind. The fact is that obesity and associated health consequences are significantly higher among people who are blind. Our unemployment rate continues to be alarming. When confronted with the challenge of making sure that the blind of Colorado can truly live the life we want, the NFB takes action. Fitness is an important part of the equation.

As many of you know, our affiliate organized our Sports and Recreation Division at the state convention in October. As Maureen Bass Master, President of the Division, wrote on this blog in early November, “this division will be dedicated to bringing wellness, activity, and fun to our members. We have many exciting goals to accomplish during this upcoming year and are working to plan quarterly activities on a chapter level, as well as being a resource for members to plug into existing groups such as, eye cycle, goal ball, yoga, and acclees.” The Division is off and running. It is already planning to visit local chapters in early 2015. Division leaders will be talking about the challenges around lack of exercise and providing encouragement. They will be seeking input from our members to understand how the Division should engage around sports, leisure activities, and wellness. The Division has already begun planning a dynamic action-oriented seminar tentatively scheduled for May 2^nd at the Colorado Center for the Blind.

It is often the case that blind people are not aware of options and strategies to get out, get moving, and get fit. This new division will help inform, inspire, and create solutions for greater integration at the gym, on the track, in the pool, at the club, on the move. The division will create a climate of equality of opportunity, and health and wellness through physical activity. The division can also affect government policies, which affect us in the areas of health, access to recreation facilities, and even vocational rehabilitation or independent living programs to enhance access to better diet, wellness programs, and life options leading to employment. If a blind person has been told all of her life to sit and wait, there is a negative health consequence. If she has been expected to wait for the buffet plate to be brought, the impact on her health is negative. If the expectation is that the blind child should not help pull the weeds, engage in the family’s touch football game, or even vacuum the floor, it is not just a lack of travel skills or low self-esteem that occur, it is often obesity and other negative health consequences. The Sports and Rec Division has an important role to play to ensure that we can live the life we want. Over this past year, the Federation has enjoyed many successes. We can add the establishment of our new Sports and Rec Division to the list. This is, after all “the organized blind movement!”