Preventing Obesity in Children and Youth with Disabilities through Participation in Physical Activity
The prevalence of obesity and obesity-related secondary conditions in youth with disabilities is significantly higher compared to youth without disabilities. This raises significant health concerns among youth with disabilities as they transition from adolescence into adulthood. There is an urgent need to promote greater access and inclusion in fitness, recreation, and sport programs offered in schools and communities throughout the nation. This is especially critical in our educational institutions, where students with disabilities must be provided with appropriate participation opportunities in physical education classes and athletic programs that are equivalent to those provided to students without disabilities.
Federal and private funding agencies must ensure that future obesity-related policy and environmental initiatives recognize the needs of families who have a child with a disability and who may need certain adaptations or accommodations to participate in physical education, recreation, and athletic programs offered in their schools and communities. Maximizing such participation to the fullest extent possible and providing adapted programs when necessary is essential for ensuring that students with disabilities have access to the health and social benefits of physical activity and sport participation.
On Tuesday, March 15, 2011, the Inclusive Fitness Coalition sponsored a successful briefing with distinguished researchers and guests who presented information which demonstrated why children and youth with disabilities must be provided with participation opportunities in physical activity and athletic programs that are equivalent to those provided to students without disabilities.
This was a unique opportunity to meet face-to-face with members of Congress and their staff to discuss the legislative issues surrounding the status of children and youth with disabilities at the federal level.
For more information, please contact Jessica Madrigal at jmadri1@uic.edu.
Send your questions and comments to Jenny Carlton, NCHPAD News Editor, at jcarlto1@uic.edu.