Westchester Institute for Human DevelopmentUniversity Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
A website with information and resources to help teens and young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, families and caregivers to achieve successful health transition.
Westchester Institute for Human DevelopmentUniversity Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
• The Taking Charge of My Health team:
• Marilyn Vitale, MA
• Mitchell Levitz
• Barbara Levitz, MS Ed
• Katie Borras, MS
• Karen Edwards, MD, MPH
Website development was supported through a grant from the Special Hope Foundation
Westchester Institute for Human DevelopmentUniversity Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
• Find out how to:
• Transition from pediatric to adult health care
• Live more independently
• Become a self-advocate!
Westchester Institute for Human DevelopmentUniversity Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
What did Taking Charge of My Health mean to me
when I was a teenager and was starting to plan for
when I became an adult?
• Being able to make my own appointments
with doctors and to go on my own so the
doctors would talk to me and not my
parents
• Taking care of getting my own
prescriptions for medicines and then
taking them by myself
Westchester Institute for Human DevelopmentUniversity Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
What did Taking Charge of My Health mean to me
when I was a teenager and was starting to plan for
when I became an adult?
• Having a way to record and keep track of
my own medical information
• Speaking up for myself when talking to my
doctors and other staff in the doctor’s
offices
Westchester Institute for Human DevelopmentUniversity Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
What did Taking Charge of My Health mean to me
when I was a teenager and was starting to plan for
when I became an adult?
• Being the one to make choices and
decisions about my health but with help
from my Circle of Support that I set up
myself
• Deciding what activities I want to do as
part of my lifestyle in order to stay healthy
Westchester Institute for Human DevelopmentUniversity Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
Besides those things that I told you were
important to me, are there other things you
can think of that are part of Taking Charge
of Your Health for you?
Westchester Institute for Human DevelopmentUniversity Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
Overview
• Learning to be more in charge of
your own health care is part of
being more independent in your life.
• These topics will guide you
through learning new information.
• You will look at the many resources
that are available.
Westchester Institute for Human DevelopmentUniversity Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
Overview
• You can read and listen to what other teens and young adults have to say.
• Going through all the topics at your own pace can help you get a full picture of making changes in your health as you become a young adult.
• But if you only want to learn certain things about health, you can just read the parts of this learning series that are of interest to you.
Westchester Institute for Human DevelopmentUniversity Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
Topics
• Getting Started: Transition Plans,
Timelines, and Checklists
• Health Goals in Individualized
School and Community Plans
• Health Records and Health
Summaries
• Health Insurance
Westchester Institute for Human DevelopmentUniversity Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
• Health Choices and Medical Decision
Making
• Moving from Pediatric to Adult Health
Care
• Health Management and Self-Advocacy
• Staying Healthy
• Changing Roles: Letting Go/Taking
Charge
Topics
Westchester Institute for Human DevelopmentUniversity Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
Let’s explore the website!
http://www.takingchargeofmyhealth.org/
Westchester Institute for Human DevelopmentUniversity Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
A Self-Advocate’s View on
Managing Your Health
• Self-advocacy means speaking up for
yourself with doctors and other health
professionals.
• A good circle of support—family and
friends—can help you make good medical
decisions.
Westchester Institute for Human DevelopmentUniversity Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
A Self-Advocate’s View on Managing
Your Health
• Taking care of your health means keeping
track of appointments, taking your
medications, and learning what to bring to
the doctor’s office.
• If you can, learn how to travel to your
medical appointments. Family, friends,
and support staff can help you learn how
to do that.
Westchester Institute for Human DevelopmentUniversity Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
• Whenever possible, choose doctors and other
health professionals who listen to you and make
you feel comfortable.
• Practice how to talk with your doctor and ask
questions. You should understand what to do to
get and stay healthy before you leave the
office—how to take a new medicine or care for
an injury at home.
A Self-Advocate’s View on Managing
Your Health
Westchester Institute for Human DevelopmentUniversity Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
• Eating right, exercising, and getting enough
sleep are important ways you can take charge
of your own health.
• Preventing illness before it starts is the best way
to by stay healthy.
A Self-Advocate’s View on Managing
Your Health
Westchester Institute for Human DevelopmentUniversity Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
Contact Information
Please feel free to contact us for more
information:
• Mitchell Levitz [email protected]
• Marilyn Vitale, MA [email protected]
• Katie Borras, MS [email protected]