Thanks, Joan and Valerie, for your consistent reminders to include
populations in the health literacy arena that many of us do not think
about every day. I hope the message is getting across to all of us who
prepare materials and messages for a broad audience. We do need
reminders to always consider alternative formats for those with hearing,
visual or intellectual disabilities.

Thanks for keeping us on our toes!

Julie

Julie McKinney
Discussion List Moderator
World Education/NCSALL
jmckinney at worlded.org


>>> Joan Medlen <joan at ipns.com> 03/07/08 11:11 AM >>>

At 07:28 AM 3/6/2008, you wrote:

>believe that literacy has far more meaning than whether a person can

>understand the words and meaning. In addition to that notion, if a

person

>does have difficulty with the comprehension factor, they/everyone can

have a

>sensory disability that adds to the frustration and access to good

health

>care.


HI Valerie,

I whole-heartedly agree. I work primarily with people who have
intellectual 
and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD), and am a firm believer that
"health 
literacy" is far more than a literacy exercise. I also believe most on
this 
list feel the same way.

In my work with Special Olympics, we have been talking about what health

literacy means for athletes involved with Special Olympics. Since I"m
still 
developing this area of the Healthy Athletes program, I"m happy to hear
any 
thoughts about this working definition:


What is “Health Literacy”?

The Institutes of Health defines health literacy as:

“the extent to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process,
and 
understand basic health information services needed to make appropriate 
health decisions.”

This definition is also included in Healthy People 2010.

However, most people working in the area of health literacy develop a
more 
practical version of this definition. One that I like for health
literacy 
within Healthy Athletes is:

“the ability to understand how and where to get health-related
information, 
understand it, use it correctly to improve health, and act on it to make

behavior change.”

Regardless of the official definition, health literacy is a type of 
“functional literacy,” with a focus on what the person can do with their

skills (seek information, establish a medical or dental home, act on 
information to change behavior to improve health and so on).

We are dedicated to sharing education for parents, professionals, and 
people with intellectual disabilities - particularly athletes in Special

Olympics - to improve health through improved health literacy for people

with intellectual disabilities.

2008 © Special Olympics, Inc.


-------
Joan E Guthrie Medlen, R.D., L.D.
Clinical Advisor, Health Literacy & Communications
Special Olympics Healthy Athletes
joan at DownSyndromeNutrition.com
503.246.3849



----------------------------------------------------
National Institute for Literacy
Health and Literacy mailing list
HealthLiteracy at nifl.gov
To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to
http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/healthliteracy
Email delivered to julie_mckinney at worlded.org