Text Version

A CAMPAIGN TO REBRAND

THE WORD WALKING

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About How I Walk

How I Walk is a movement to rebrand the word walking by challenging individual and societal perspectives.  The visual campaign aims to promote walking as an inclusive physical activity term that is individualized.  There are various ways to walk, and now is the time to rebrand the word walking so that everybody is included in walking initiatives.

The How I Walk campaign is in support of the U.S. Surgeon General’s Call to Action on Walking, “Step It Up: The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Walking and Walkable Communities”.  Learn More

Overall Goal

This campaign aims to:

Influence Perspectives

Influence perspectives on walking by encouraging a transformation in individual and societal attitudes about people with disability.

Spur a Rebrand

Spur health promotion providers and walking advocates to adopt the rebrand walking mentality to promote inclusion in all walking initiatives.

Inspire Self-Advocates

Encourage consumers to become self-advocates by sharing their mode of walking through social media activation.

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A Call to Action

  • 50% of adults with disability get no aerobic physical activity.
  • 20% of the population has a disability.
  • 29% of people with disability have unmet healthcare needs.
  • Adults with disability are 3 times more likely to have a chronic disease.

We envision a future of Community Health Inclusion, where health promotion activities are accessible to all.

Campaign Graphics

Use these visuals to amplify the message.

Send a strong message to society about people with disability and the importance of rebranding the word walking.

Twelve images appear in three columns, with four rows.  Each image has a drop down feature that says, “Click each icon to download”.

Image One:

A picture of a girl in a gray t-shirt, with a long, brown ponytail in a wheelchair walking through an accessible park on a beautiful, cloudless, sunny day.  The text on top of the image reads: “Systems designed to meet the needs of people with disability will meet the needs of everyone”.  Link to Download Image

Image Two:

An older adult man participating in a race at a track. There are banners hanging along the fence of the track. He has on a blue uniform adorned with the American Flag in the center of his chest.   He is wearing gloves with the American Flag on top of each hand. He has a lower prosthesis on his right leg.  The text on top of the image reads: “We want to see How You Walk!  Share your mode of walking on social media”.  Link to Download Image

Image Three:

A man in a wheelchair, wearing a red shirt and sunglasses is preparing to walk across the street at a crosswalk.  He is pressing the button for the traffic signal to change and there are several cars in the background.  The text of top of the image reads: “Walking is a human right.  Demand safe and accessible streets for walking and active transportation”.  Link to Download Image

Image Four:

Five individuals are displaying different ways they walk across an accessible entrance. There is a man wearing a black shirt in a wheelchair who is walking in front of the group. To his right is a lady with braids wearing a black sweatsuit and blue wheelchair and behind her is a lady with a red shirt and blue pants walking in white tennis shoes. Behind her is a lady pushing a walker and to her left is a girl in jeans with headphones on walking in a motorized wheelchair.  The group is walking across an accessible path outside on a sunny day. The text on top of the image reads: “Inclusion in health promotion is a winnable battle.  Join the movement to rebrand the word walking”.  Link to Download Image

Image Five:

A lady with brown hair is in a pink sleeveless t-shirt out walking in her wheelchair on a bright sunny day. She has a towel on her lap and gloves on her hands.  The text on top of the image reads: “Rethink the way you speak about walking!”.  Link to Download Image

Image Six:

Three individuals are walking along a wide path outside at a park.  From left to right, a blonde haired child in red shorts, yellow t-shirt and tennis shoes is walking using two legs, next a small boy wearing a camouflaged hat is walking using a wheelchair and holding hands with an adult female to the right of him.  The adult female has brown hair and is wearing shorts while walking with two legs.  The text on top of the image reads: “Some use two legs, some use two wheels.  Make walking an inclusive term!”.  Link to Download Image

Image Seven:

A group of youth are walking down a sidewalk. The youth are wearing bright shirts and most are carrying backpacks. Some are using their wheelchairs to walk, while others are walking assisted with walking sticks.  The text on top of the image reads: “Use inclusive imagery instead of inclusive synonyms like rolling, pushing, or wheeling”.  Link to Download Image

Image Eight:

A group of four diverse youth in wheelchairs are walking outside in a park. The chairs are different colors, one is red, one is blue and a couple are black.  The text on top of the image reads: “Stop the synonym surplus!  Every body walks.  Let’s create inclusion in walking”.  Link to Download Image

Image Nine:

Two ladies in shorts and baseball caps are walking around an indoor track and are accompanied by a man in a wheelchair walking beside them. The three of them are wearing white t-shirts and smiling.  The text on top of the image reads: “Now is the time to rebrand the word walking so that everybody is included in walking initiatives”.  Link to Download Image

Image Ten:

A fitness center is filled with individuals on exercise machines. There are 8 people on different machines. Both male and female, they represent a variety of ages.  Most individuals in the picture are walking indoors on a treadmill.  The text on top of the image reads: “Walking is a viable form of physical activity for people of all ages and abilities”.  Link to Download Image

Image Eleven:

A young brown haired girl with an upper arm extremity amputation is walking briskly outside while her hair is blowing in the wind.  She is wearing a multi-colored tank top with a star pattern and pink beaded necklace.  The text on top of the image reads: “All individuals have the right to conditions and resources that ensure optimal health”.  Link to Download Image

The twelfth image is a repeat of image one.

There are various ways to walk.  Watch these videos to see in action and share your own!

Eight images appear that you can click to watch a video.  The video titles are:

Video One- Kids: Show Us How You Walk  Link to Watch Video

Video Two- The Personal Impacts of Walking  Link to Watch Video

Video Three- Athletes: Show Us How You Walk  Link to Watch Video

Video Four: Veterans: Show Us How You Walk  Link to Watch Video

Video Five- Adults: Show Us How You Walk  Link to Watch Video

Video Six- Athletes: Show Us How You Walk  Link to Watch Video

Video Seven- Schools: Show Us How You Walk  Link to Watch Video

Video Eight- Communities: Show Us How You Walk  Link to Watch Video

Given equal access to walking spaces, walking is a viable form of physical activity for Americans of all ages and abilities.

Core Materials/Activities

  • Campaign Graphics – Send a strong message to society about people with disability and the importance of rebranding the word walking. Link for Graphics
  • Social Media Activation – Get details on social media activation using the hashtag #HowIWalk. Link for Social Media Activation
  • Campaign Videos – Use these target audience videos to engage people in sharing “how they walk” as a tactic to generate views and action. Link for Campaign Videos playlist
  • Campaign Toolkit – Download this toolkit to serve as an overview of the campaign and its contents. Link to download PDF Toolkit
  • Fact Sheets – Additional resources that support inclusion in walking initiatives and the walking movement. Link to Fact Sheets
  • Key Messages- These messages aim to guide the development of communication products and opportunities about inclusion in walking. Link to Key Messages

Video embedded from YouTube for the Surgeon General’s Call to Action titled, “Surgeon General says Step it Up”.

We want to see How You Walk!  Share your mode of walking on social media…

Icons and links for the following social media platforms:

Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest

Button with {#HowIWalk}

Engage with the walking movement

  • The U.S. Surgeon General, Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, M.D., M.B.A., is focused on active living as a health priority and has announced a new call to action – Step It Up! The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities. Learn More
  • Every Body Walk! Collaborative is a partnership of national, state and local organizations, federal agencies, businesses and professional associations that are committed to developing and implementing collective approaches that can return walking to a valued, cultural norm for all Americans. Learn More
  • Centers For Disease Control and Prevention has The Built Environment Assessment Tool (BE Tool) which measures the core features and qualities of the built environment that affect health, especially walking, biking and other types of physical activity. Learn More

Button with {Link to Step It Up!} http://www.nchpad.org/howiwalk/step-it-up/

Our Latest News

Three of the latest blog/new posts appear with an image, date, description, and link to click to view.

Contact Us

Link to Live Chat – http://messenger.providesupport.com/messenger/0sx0takrg3ub7109ibnjkduxrz.html

Telephone- 800-900-8086

Email- email@nchpad.org

Please contact for additional alternative formats of campaign materials.