Healthy People/Healthy Communities Research
We study health and health-related factors that inform our understanding about health-related concerns as they relate to persons with I/DD. Our current work is focused on the understanding and promotion of healthy lifestyles to improve nutrition, increase physical activity and fitness, and to prevent and treat obesity. Our work has included epidemiological, observational, and intervention studies funded by the National Institutes for Health (NIH), the Health Resources and Services Administration Material and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), and private foundations.
As a result of our work, we have been given the opportunity to lead a national research network as national leaders in addressing the needs of children and youth with ASD/DD, through a cooperative agreement from the Maternal & Child Health Bureau (UA3MC25735-01-00; HRSA/MCHB) that supports the Healthy Weight Research Network. The HWRN’s mission is to advance the understanding of obesity risk factors in children with ASD/DD, promote the development of evidence-based solutions to achieve healthy weight in this population, and disseminate research findings to broad and diverse audiences. It comprises a national network of interdisciplinary researchers who serve as core members and a vast array of associate members and subscribers who are clinicians, researchers, educators, policy makers, family members, students, and self-advocates.