Protecting Pedestrians on Public Sidewalks and Crosswalks

There are so many types of barriers to a disabled persons use of the public right-of-way which prevent independent travel. We need curb ramps and blended transitions. Detectable warning surfaces and accessible pedestrian signals are important. Let’s be sure on-street parking and public transit stops are accessible. And what about when a sidewalk or cross walk is closed for construction or maintenance? These barriers affect people who have trouble walking or use wheelchairs, as well as those who have low vision or are blind. The US Access Board has recently issued accessibility guidelines for the pubic right-of-way that is covered by Title II of the ADA (for state and local government facilities), the Architectural Barriers Act (for federally funded buildings), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (for any program receiving federal financial support). For information on the new requirements, including videos about sidewalks which highlight some of the common accessibility issues, please see this link below:

https://www.access-board.gov/prowag/other/accessible-sidewalks-video-series/

As of 2022, Your Work Around the House Has Value!

In a family that includes a man and a woman, it is traditional that the woman spends more time doing household chores and caring for other family members than does the man. Here’s the most recent data, according to the National Partnership for Women & Families. 

The 2022 American Time Use Survey showed that the average woman spends almost 52 minutes per day on these unpaid tasks. That’s almost double what the average man spends.

The average wage for home aides or child care workers in the US is $14.55 per hour. Doing the math, the average woman in the US would make an additional $4,600 a year if she were compensated for her unpaid work at home. If paid for his contribution, a man would make an additional $2,300 a year.

All together, US women’s unpaid work had a cumulative value of $627 billion dollars in 2022. Men’s unpaid work had a cumulative value of over $300 billion.

That’s a reverse gender gap in the pay scale… except it’s the value of unpaid work.

The Importance of the Gut Microbiome

A biome is a community of living organisms that formed in response to a specific environment. In the physical world, there are five types of biomes: aquatic, desert, forest, grassland, and tundra.

The human body has several unique biomes, including on the skin, in the mouth, and in the large intestine. The various human microbiomes consist of a large range of bacteria types and other microorganisms. The microorganisms comprising the gut microbiome greatly outnumber the number of cells in the human body.

While we don’t normally think about our bowel (until it gets upset!), the microbiome it contains has several very important health functions. The gut microbiome helps the digestive system by breaking down complex carbohydrates and soluble fibers, releasing nutrients. It regulates the metabolism of bile to optimize skeletal muscle function.

The microbes in the intestine sense nutritional cues about the body’s environment and send hormone-like messages to control blood sugar, hunger, and satiety. These endocrine-like functions alter cardiovascular disease progression and may be involved in diabetes.

The intestines contain 70% of the body’s immune cells. The helpful bacteria in the gut fight invading harmful bacteria, forming a natural defense against infection. They also have anti-inflammatory functions.

Certain gut bacteria produce serotonin and other neurotransmitter chemicals, which regulate many aspects of neurological and behavioral functions, such as cognition, mood, and nerve pain. 

Encouraging, maintaining, and protecting your gut microbiome will improve your overall health. Do this by eating a variety of healthy foods, including fermented foods, probiotics and prebiotics, and avoiding antibiotics.

Three cheers for healthy gut microbiomes!

 

TIP- Four Ways to Eat Healthier

1. Do you know whether your eating habits are healthy or not? A good way to evaluate your eating habits is to keep a food and drink journal. For a few weeks, jot down everything you put in your mouth – what it is, when you ate or drank it, why you ate or drank it. Then look for patterns.
2. Check your kitchen, pantry, and any place else you store food, like a desk drawer. Remove tempting comfort foods, and do not replace them.
3. It’s fine to give yourself an occasional treat. That will help curb cravings. But notice how often you give in. Try to stretch out the time between treats. This is easier to do if you keep a food and drink journal.
4. Expect setbacks in your journey to eat healthier. There are bumps in every path. Don’t allow them to be reasons to quit trying to achieve your healthier eating goal.