Resources
National Center for College Students with Disabilities
The National Center for College Students with Disabilities (NCCSD), established December 1, 2015, is a federally-funded project that provide technical assistance and information to anyone needing information about disability and higher education, including college students, their families, faculty, college administrators and staff, disability services professionals, researchers, and policymakers.
EACH MIND MATTERS - California's MENTAL HEALTH MOVEMENT
We all experience different levels of mental health throughout our lives. We all want support systems that can help us through challenges, like supportive relationships and safe living environments. Sometimes we have these support systems, and sometimes we don’t. Many of us will also experience life challenges like unemployment or relationship issues. Regardless of what situation you may find yourself in – in wellness or not – there is help available.
Each Mind Matters is California’s mental health movement. We are millions of individuals and thousands of organizations working to advance mental health. The mental health movement certainly didn’t start with us, but Each Mind Matters was created to unite all of us who share a vision of improved mental health and equality.
The Mental Health of People with Disabilities
"Adults with disabilities report experiencing frequent mental distress almost 5 times as often as adults without disabilities. Call your doctor if your mental health gets in the way of your daily activities for at least 14 days in a month."
From the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, read more on the importance of mental health support for people with disabilities. “People with disabilities or developmental delays may respond strongly to the stress of a crisis, particularly if they are also at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 (for example, older people and people of any age with certain underlying medical conditions).”
People with Disabilities | COVID-19
During the COVID-19 pandemic, isolation, disconnect, disrupted routines, and diminished health services have greatly impacted the lives and mental well-being of people with disabilities. Here, the CDC offers some advice on how to protect yourself during the pandemic.
Strong Minds Activity Guide
From the Special Olympics, Strong Minds is an interactive learning activity focused on developing adaptive coping skills. Competition provides a natural opportunity to develop active strategies for maintaining emotional wellness under stress, such as: thinking positive thoughts, releasing stress and connecting with others. This guide is complete with deep breathing techniques, body awareness and progressive muscle relaxation, mindful movement, and guided meditation. It is designed to help folks with disabilities develop their coping skills in everyday life.
People with Disabilities
People with disabilities often encounter challenges when seeking out effective and accessible mental health care, whether it’s in-person or virtual communication barriers making it difficult to interact with a mental health professional or the lack of reliable transportation for a person with a mobility-related disability. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Here, NAMI provides guidance and resources for people with disabilities.
Mental Health Is Health
“Mental Health is Health” is an MTV Entertainment Group initiative rooted in the reality that we all have mental health and need to take care of it like we do our physical health. The initiative aims to normalize conversation, create a connection to resources and inspire action on mental health.
Why We Need Therapists With Disabilities
Associate Professional Clinical Counselor Ashley Mohesky writes, “During my time as a counseling graduate student with nonverbal spastic cerebral palsy, I have learned that there are not many mental health therapists with a disability. Although there are a plethora of vocational rehabilitation counselors who are disabled, the profession only focuses on finding employment for the disabled population, which does not help someone who is struggling with their mental health due to the emotional impact that a diagnosis may bring.”
MENTOR: Mindfulness Exercise Nutrition To Optimize Recovery
The MENTOR program, which stands for Mindfulness, Exercise and Nutrition to Optimize Recovery takes a holistic approach to restoring, improving and protecting health. For the purposes of this program, health is divided into three domains – physical, mental and emotional health. MENTOR will focus on individuals who have acquired a new disability (spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury), diagnosis (multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease) or have a congenital condition (cerebral palsy, spina bifida). Through this program individuals will learn the multiple ways life can be enhanced through the portal of health and wellness.
HeartInMind
Lucy Plascencia | jplascencia@sdccd.edu