Project Shake-It-Up - Western University

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Project Shake-It-Up

Promoting health and building capacity with people with spinal cord injuries and related neuro-muscular disabilities

Project Shake-It-Up was a research study to promote health and build the capacity of people with spinal cord injuries and related neuro-muscular disabilities. The research intervention consisted of 10 day-long sessions with healthy promotion and independent living workshops in the morning and physical and recreational activities in the afternoon.

A participant paddles a yellow kayak on a harbour, with sailboats and motorboats in the background.

Participants also received peer mentoring from a local Independent Living Center. Workshops and activities were designed and facilitated by people with disabilities using a peer-mentoring model.

This website is meant to provide information and resources and suggest strategies to people with disabilities and service providers in the hope of promoting self advocacy and healthy living. Knowing that every community and every disability experience is unique, we invite individuals and organizations to use our website as a starting point for adapting or developing programs to suit your needs.

Project Shake-It-Up was conducted in collaboration with researchers from Stony Brook University, Brown University, the University of Illinois at Chicago and community organizations Shake-A-Leg Inc. and People Actively Reaching Independence (PARI) Inc. The study was funded by the Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (Field Initiated Research Award CFDA Program 84.133, PR/Award No: H133G010094), January 2002-December 2005.

Program model

Project Shake-It-Up program model. At the centre: peer support, capacity building, and social networks. Around it, four linked areas: recreation and physical activity (fitness and leisure; nutrition and skin care), independent living and case coordination (setting goals; strength and conditioning; problem solving; developing life skills; self-advocacy), and health promotion (adaptive equipment; talking to medical professionals; alcohol and substance use reduction). Arrows connect them as healthy living, independent living, and individualized, self-directed programs.

Project Shake-It-Up program model. At the centre: peer support, capacity building, and social networks. Around it, four linked areas: recreation and physical activity (fitness and leisure; nutrition and skin care), independent living and case coordination (setting goals; strength and conditioning; problem solving; developing life skills; self-advocacy), and health promotion (adaptive equipment; talking to medical professionals; alcohol and substance use reduction). Arrows connect them as healthy living, independent living, and individualized, self-directed programs.