NCHPAD PRODUCTS and RESOURCES

As we celebrated the 17th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, environmental accessibility received recent well-deserved attention. NCHPAD offers several resources that are useful in educating facilities, professionals, and consumers in creating and locating accessible physical activity environments. Please see the resources and products listed below, or call 800-900-8086 or email email@ncpad.org for more information or additional resources.

• Accessible Parks Database: Find a local park with accessible features at http://www.ncpad.org/directories/18/Parks.
• Virtual Tour of an Accessible Community Fitness Center: This virtual tour shows a logical layout of fitness equipment while also assuring each universally designed piece can be accessed by any user. To take the tour, go to http://www.ncpad.org/get/VirtualTour/Welcome.html.
• Before and After Fitness Center Makeover: This interactive tool helps you visualize how to make accessible changes in your fitness facility, including specifications as set forth by the U.S. Access Board Guidelines at http://www.ncpad.org/fitnessCenter/index.html.
• Accessibility Instruments Measuring Fitness and Recreation Environments Manuals (AIMFREE): Do your own accessibility assessment of a recreation and fitness facility using these manuals that consist of a validated series of questionnaire measures. For more information or to order online, go to http://www.ncpad.org/426/2254/AIMFREE~Manuals, or call 800-900-8086 or email email@ncpad.org.
• "Creating an Accessible Fitness or Wellness Facility," International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) Developer's Guide 2007
  
  An article written by Blythe Hiss, M.S., and Amy Rauworth, M.S., RCEP and Associate Director of NCPAD, is featured in the recently published annual Developer's Guide of the ICAA. This article features information and tips on overcoming environmental and attitudinal barriers within your fitness facility that often discourage those with disabilities and/or activity limitations from participating.
  
  This Guide is available by contacting the ICAA at 866-335-9777 or jeniferm@icaa.cc, or a PDF of the article can be downloaded by clicking here http://www.ncpad.org/get/pdf/hiss_rauworth_2007.pdf.

DISABILITY IN THE NEWS

Landmark study finds adult Delawareans with disabilities in only 'fair to poor health', July 24, 2007, University of Delaware Daily

This study, performed by the University of Delaware's Center for Disability Studies, reported that one of every seven adult Delawareans has at least one disability, and the general health of these residents with disabilities is only "fair" to "poor." The findings and recommendations are included in a 56-page report, which will serve as a tool to improve the welfare of the state's adults with disabilities.

For the full story, and to download a PDF of the report, go to http://www.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/2008/jul/report072407.html.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN THE NEWS

Alternative activities that burn calories, Pocono Record, Northeast Pennsylvania, Charles Stuart Platkin, Diet Detective, July 9, 2007

When it comes to exercise, many of us don't get excited at the prospect of going to a gym. It is hard to be motivated to stay active, despite all the research showing physical activity's benefits. Luckily, there are more ways to stay active. Activities represented in this article include: sailing, scuba diving, water aerobics, scuba, curling, fencing, tetherball, hopscotch, belly dancing, handball, rollerblading, juggling, golf, fishing, and household activities.

For the full article, go to http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070709/NEWS01/707090326.

For NCHPAD resources related to some of these "alternative" fitness activities, go to:
Golf Factsheet at http://www.ncpad.org/212/1396/Golf
Dancing Factsheet at http://www.ncpad.org/29/202/Dancing
Fishing Factsheet at http://www.ncpad.org/35/268/Fishing
Scuba Diving Factsheet (with video clips) at http://www.ncpad.org/42/315/Scuba~Diving
This month's FITT column at http://www.ncpad.org/490/2374/Find~the~Joy~of~Movement~in~Nia

Lakshmi Voelker Chair Yoga

Chair yoga, a more gentle form of yoga, brings the restorative powers of yoga to those previously unable to receive these benefits.

Read more about this form of yoga in the February 2005 Associated Press article, "Chair Yoga Catching on Among Seniors, New Technique Easier on Limbs" at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6914206/.

For more information on a CD/DVD with tutorial booklet and/or teacher training, please contact Bruce Binder at 760-774-1752 or go to www.yogawithlakshmi.com.
Also see a NCHPAD resource on "Yoga for Individuals with Disabilities" at http://www.ncpad.org/295/1834/Yoga~for~Individuals~with~Disabilities.

American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Releases Updated Physical Activity Guidelines, August 1, 2007
The ACSM and American Heart Association (AHA) have released updated physical activity recommendations for adults and older adults on the types and amounts of physical activity needed by healthy adults and older adults to improve and maintain health. Specifically, the guidelines recommend all healthy adults aged 18 to 65 years need moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity for a minimum of 30 minutes on five days each week or vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity for a minimum of 20 minutes on three days each week.
For more information, go to http://www.acsm.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home_Page&TEMPLATE=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=7764.

OTHER NEWS

Submit manuscripts for Disability and Health Journal directly to Elsevier!

You may submit your manuscript electronically for the Disability and Health Journal directly to Pat Hogan, U.S. Health Sciences Journals, at p.hogan@elsevier.com by emailing attachments in Microsoft Word. Please specify AAHD Disability & Health Journal in the subject line.

For more information, contact Roberta S. Carlin, MS, JD, Executive Director, AAHD, at (301) 545-6140, ext. 206, or rcarlin@aahd.us or go to www.aahd.us.

Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) Advances to Final of United Kingdom National Lottery Award - VOTE AGAIN HERE!

With wide support, the IFI has made it through to the final of the Best Health Project 2007 category. The IFI is a unique and pioneering project with a clear ambition: that every person with a disability in England should have access to an inclusive fitness facility within reasonable distance of his or her home.

The next round of public voting will close at midday on August 31. Vote again by calling 0845 386 8096.

MONTHLY NATIONAL HEALTH OBSERVANCES

Family Golf Month, Professional Golfer's Association of America (PGA)
"July is Family Golf Month" is a PGA Play Golf America program designed to provide a structured, yet casual opportunity for families to learn the game of golf together. Go to http://www.playgolfamerica.com/ for more information.
NCHPAD factsheet on golf for people with disabilities can be found at http://www.ncpad.org/212/1396/Golf

National Bowling Week, United States Bowling Congress, August 25-31
This second annual celebration of bowling begins with "National Bowling Day" on August 25. The week's activities will include national contests and bowling promotions, as well as clinics and events nationwide.
For more information and to locate events in your area, please go to http://www.bowl.com.
NCHPAD factsheet on bowling for people with disabilities can be found at http://www.ncpad.org/15/82/Bowling.

National Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Awareness Month

SMA is a group of inherited, incurable, and often fatal diseases that destroys the nerves controlling voluntary muscle movement, which affects crawling, walking, head and neck control, and even swallowing.

For more information, contact the Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy at (800) 886-1762 or go to http://www.curesma.org/august.shtml.

For a NCHPAD resource on SMA and nutrition, go to http://www.ncpad.org/393/2167/Nutrition~Spotlight~~Nutrition~Suggestions~for~Spinal~Muscular
~Atrophy.