There is a pressing need to study the activity patterns and physiological responses to exercise in persons with disabilities. Healthy People 2000 states that "a clear opportunity exists for health promotion and disease prevention efforts to improve the health prospects and functional independence of people with disabilities"(p. 41). In an era when the Americans with Disabilities Act and other legislation have provided strong legal incentives for residential, educational, and employment integration, there is still relatively little information on the physical activity patterns of the millions of Americans with disabilities. The biggest challenge ahead for exercise scientists will be to find ways to get people with disabilities more involved in physical activity, particularly persons with intellectual disabilities, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, SCI, autism, and traumatic brain injury. Furthermore, if the discipline of exercise physiology is going to have any impact on the lives of Americans with physical and mental disabilities, questions concerning exercise testing and exercise prescription guidelines, and barriers to participation in physical activity and fitness programs by specific groups of individuals with disabilities, must be addressed in future research. The forthcoming textbook, "Exercise Management for Chronic Disease and Disability," published by the American College of Sports Medicine, is a step in the right direction.

As the nation approaches the year 2000, increasingly large numbers of persons with disabilities will live, work, recreate, and attend school in mainstream society. As a result of a sedentary lifestyle, however, a disproportionate number of these citizens will potentially incur secondary problems such as depression, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity at much earlier stages of life than is normal. They need not, however, inordinately burden our health care system as they grow older. To facilitate the integration of persons with disabilities into American society and to promote their health and prevent disease, there is a pressing need for exercise scientists to mount research on this important group of American citizens. The study of activity patterns and physical activity interventions for persons with disabilities is an emerging research priority that should be fully embraced by the research community, by research funding agencies, and by persons with disabilities.