Project Areas

"To be vulnerab le is not to be in jeopardy. To be vulnerable and alone is the matrix of disaster."

—Willard Gaylin

Health

SEXUAL HEALTH FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND AUTISM: Why Is It Important & What Can You Do About It?


Parents and caregivers of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often have so much on their minds that teaching sexual health falls on the backburner. Unfortunately, lack of proper sexual health education may lead to grave dangers for those individuals, including sexual abuse or inappropriate sexual behaviors. This webinar includes studies, statistics, lessons learned, and teaching tips. Presenters: Nila Benito, FCIC Coordinator of Community Supports. Jackie Selbst, USF second-year medical student. Moderator: Liz Perkins, FCIC Health Coordinator. For More Information: contact Nila Benito at benito@usf.edu IMPORTANT! Please complete this 3 minute survey after you view the webinar.

Compound Caregivers (White Paper)

Compound Caregivers: Overlooked and Overburdened is a white paper authored by Dr. Elizabeth Perkins regarding the challenges encountered by older caregivers of adults with intellectual disabilities when they are simultaneously caregiving for other aging family members. The white paper is an attempt to alert policy makers and service providers alike of this emerging trend among lifelong family caregivers and offers recommendations for how to increase the availability of supports to assist these very dedicated but overburdened individuals.

My Health Passport

FCIC's My Health Passport  is a document that should be completed by an individual (and/or their caregiver), to describe important aspects about their special health care needs. My Health Passport was designed to be shared with many types of healthcare providers, in clinic and hospital settings. It is especially useful for providing pertinent information to those who are not very familiar in providing care to individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities. A limited quantity of My Health Passports are currently available, and can be ordered by contacting Dr. Liz Perkins at eperkins@usf.edu  or Tel: 813 974 7076. The forms are also available for download. They can be printed as is, or the information can be typed in before printing. English version| Spanish version. We would welcome any feedback or comments regarding your experiences with using FCIC's My Health Passport!

Project Conectar

Project Conectar is part of a federally-funded Research Topic of Interest (RTOI), a cooperative agreement between the Association of University Centers on Disabilities and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This RTOI is a two-year project that researches the application of autism early intervention efforts via natural supports within underserved and underrepresented families in Little Havana, Miami. The goals of the project are to adapt, modify, or create Center for Disease Control autism early intervention material's, "Learn the Signs Act Early," and the use of natural supports for underserved and underrepresented families. For more information, contact Bobbie Vaughn at vaughn@fmhi.usf.edu.

Health & Wellness Brochures

The FCIC has developed health and wellness brochures to provide individuals with developmental disabilities with important information about living a healthy life.  All brochures are available to download as pdfs documents from the links below.

Nutrition English version | Spanish version
Physical Activity English version | Spanish version
Sleep English version | Spanish version
Oral Health English version | Spanish version
Infant Oral Health English version | Spanish version
Protection from Abuse & Exploitation English version | Spanish version

Training Healthcare Providers

The Florida Center for Inclusive Communities Partners with the University of Florida and the USF College of Medicine to Train Future Healthcare Providers. Read the entire story here.

Sexuality & Developmental Disabilities Across the Lifespan

The subject of sexuality can be daunting. Add to the mix a physical or cognitive disability and you may find yourself feeling totally unprepared to deal with the subject matter.

Staff from the Florida Center for Inclusive Communities has collaborated with the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council and University of Albany, Center of Intellectual Disabilities to create an easy to use workbook for families and educators of individuals with developmental disabilities.

We are all sexual beings from the day we are born. Sexuality is the exploration of ourselves - our physical bodies, our emotions, our self-worth and image, and our interrelations with others. It is one of the most basic human instincts, and no matter what level our learning abilities, it is a natural part of being human to have the desire to discover what our bodies are all about.

This Instructional Manual and the accompanying Resource Guides are designed to help educators and family members assist individuals with developmental disabilities in their exploration of self and sexuality.

Click here for the Educator Sexuality Workbook in English
Click here for the Educator Sexuality Workbook in Spanish
Click here for the Parent Sexuality Workbook in English
Click here for the Parent Sexuality Workbook in Spanish