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It doesn't matter who you are, or whether or not you have a disability. Staying fit and active is important to overall health and well-being. Participation in sports and recreation can be a great way for young people with disabilities to stay healthy and to feel good about themselves.
Involvement in sports and recreation covers a wide range of activities and opportunities. There is really something for everyone, even young people with severe disabilities.
Some people participate in activities purely for fun. Others combine recreation with a degree of competition. At the other end of the spectrum, some athletes with disabilities participate in elite competitions.
In addition to the physical benefits, being active can also improve the emotional and social adjustment of young p eople with disabilities. In many cases, young people who participate in recreational activities are better integrated into schools and communities. They also seem to adjust better to life as they become adults.
A therapeutic recreation specialist conducts a leisure evaluation as the basis for a child's or teen's participation in activities. The TR specialist assists in identifying the young person's recreational interests and provides resources to help them get started.
The specialist is also available for ongoing consultation (including appropriate training and injury prevention techniques) and to assist community program staff in adapting activities for young people with disabilities.
Fitness testing is important to measure and track the patient's cardiovascular fitness. This helps in setting individual goals and selecting beneficial activities. Fitness testing can be performed as a part of leisure evaluation, injury rehabili tation or during a regular clinic visit to Gillette.
Gillette Children's maintains a database of information and resources on a wide range of sport and recreation activities for people with disabilities. Gillette also provides families and young people with educational material and supports community-based educational activities.