Can you believe it is July? I like to think of July as the middle month. It’s the middle of the year, the middle of summer with the longest days of the year, and the middle of summer vacation from school.  The 4th of July may be a national holiday remembering the birth of the United States, but it is also means there is still half of this year to enjoy being physically active.

July is also National Park and Recreation Month. Every year, the National Park and Recreation Association encourages park departments to observe National Park and Recreation Month with special events such as nature walks, safety clinics, or volunteer opportunities. Too hot to be outside? Try a visit to an accessible park such as Mammoth Cave: http://www.nps.gov/maca/index.htm.

No national or state park in your vicinity? Why not stay closer to home and celebrate National Picnic Month? Many parks have accessible paths that will provide a short cardio workout which will help build up your appetite. Some parks offer special events that are free to the public such as family movies, evening concerts or plays, art festivals, farmer’s markets or great lookouts to watch a sunset. Check out the following link for events at a few parks around the country:  http://www.nrpa.org/july/. If your chosen park is not on the list, tell the National Recreation and Park Association “Why You Love Your Park and Recreation Center” by adding to the list.

So, you have decided on a staycation? Well it is National Grilling Month. Light up the grill and prepare some delicious outdoor meals such as kabobs with seasonal vegetables, fruit and an optional meat or protein. Don’t forget a cool salad:  leafy, fruit,  or both!

Finally, don’t forget to celebrate Wheelchair Beautification Month! Horace Knowles founded this designation and suggested attaching a florist’s water tube near the top of a wheelchair by means of Velcro and inserting a real or artificial flower of your choice in it. It will brighten the day not only for the wheelchair occupant, but for everyone they pass. Personalize your ride, walking cane or any other assistive devices with some whimsy and fun.

Check out the brand new I Can Do It, You Can Do It! initiative:

Everyone deserves equal opportunities to lead a healthy, active lifestyle—especially children and adults with disabilities. With obesity rates for children and adults with disabilities 38 percent and 57 percent higher than rates for children and adults without, it is critical that people with disabilities are included in programs and services that meet their needs as a person, not just as a person with a disability.

The President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition’s new initiative, I Can Do It, You Can Do It! (ICDI) addresses the need for more children and adults with disabilities to be physically active. ICDI partners with schools and school districts, colleges and universities, and other community entities to provide mentoring programs that facilitate physical activity and nutrition education opportunities, and offer recognition with the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA+). The program includes a comprehensive toolkit to enable site directors and mentors to be successful in providing opportunities for children and adults with disabilities to be active, as well as relevant physical activity- and nutrition-related resources to encourage a healthy, active lifestyle. Learn more about ICDI by visiting www.fitness.gov.

Upcoming Events

• No Barriers Summit
  • August 8 – 11, 2013
  • Telluride, CO
  • This family-friendly event is for people of all ages and abilities.  It will combine hands-on clinics, product demonstrations, outdoor excursions, films, art, music and symposia.
  • To register visit http://nobarriersusa.org/summit

• Audubon Birding by Kayak
  • Organized by The Adaptive Adventure Sports Coalition (TAASC)
  • Saturday, August 10, 2013 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • Powell, OH
  • Leaders from the Columbus Audubon will guide kayakers through Twin Lakes and on to the Scioto River identifying the many species of birds in the area. Bring binoculars, sun protection and a brown bag lunch for the wrap up gathering afterwards.
  • To learn more and register, visit http://taasc.org

• Living Well with a Disability Conference and Expo (LWWD)
  • August 23-26, 2013
  • Lancaster, PA
  • This four-day conference and two-day expo will give people with all types of disabilities the chance to find and experience what living well with a disability truly means to them.
  • To register, visit http://www.livingwellwithadisability.org

Upcoming Webinars

• ADA Anniversary Update:  23 Years Later
  • http://www.ada-audio.org/Schedule/#fy2013session10
  • July 16
  • Time TBA

• The Anatomy and Myth of the ADA Drive-By Lawsuit
  • http://www.ada-audio.org/Webinar/ADALegal/Schedule/#fy2013session5
  • July 17
  • Time TBA

• Pregnancy, Discrimination, Disability, and the ADA
  • http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/cpps/ada/webinars/legalwebinar.asp
  • July 18
  • 2-3.30pm EST