LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Partners for Inclusive Communities at the University of Arkansas is expanding its health efforts with the launch of "Nutrition is for Everyone," a one-year regional pilot project designed to provide nutrition education to people with disabilities, their families and the community. 

An estimated 20,000 people in the disability community will be reached across four states where the needs are greatest: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

"We are pleased to work with the Association of University Centers on Disabilities and partners in three other states to implement 'Nutrition is for Everyone,' under grant funding from the Walmart Foundation," said David Deere, executive director of Partners for Inclusive Communities. "This is the first time the Walmart Foundation has funded efforts that support the direct training of people with disabilities and community members on nutrition."

Partners is a member of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, a national, nonprofit network of centers working to improve the health, education, social, and economic well-being for people with disabilities and their families throughout the United States and territories. Partners is administratively located in the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas.

People with disabilities are not often included in typical nutrition efforts. "Nutrition is for Everyone" seeks to include the disability community in all nutrition outreach and education efforts. This new program employs "Nutrition Ambassadors," experts from AUCD's member centers, who will help people with disabilities, as well as their families and friends, develop the knowledge and skills necessary to make healthy decisions about their nutritional needs.

Previously, Partners addressed nutrition knowledge and awareness among people with disabilities through a program funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency has also worked with the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to train dietitians to work with children with disabilities.

"We look forward to meeting the goals of 'Nutrition is for Everyone' - increasing the number of people with disabilities receiving nutrition education, while increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables for people with disabilities," Deere said.

For more information, contact Deere at 501-301-1100.