Since 1999, the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD) has helped reshape the conversation around disability, health, and wellness in the United States. What began as a small resource center focused on physical activity has grown into one of the nation’s leading disability health promotion organizations, influencing public health systems, community programs, healthcare providers, and wellness initiatives nationwide.
NCHPAD’s story reflects changing societal views on disability. The focus has shifted from the medical model to accessibility, wellness, and participation to support people with mobility limitations through the lens of the lived perspective.
The Beginning: NCPAD Launches in 1999
NCHPAD began at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) as the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD). Led by disability health researcher James H. Rimmer, David Braddock, Head of the UIC Department of Disability and Human Development (DHD), and Bill Schiller, UIC faculty member in DHD, the organization was established with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to address a major public health issue: people with disabilities were being left out of mainstream health and fitness initiatives.
At the time, the national conversation around disability focused on access, rehabilitation, and independent living. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 has improved physical accessibility in public spaces. Still, few accessible fitness programs existed, disability-focused wellness research was scarce, and almost no national infrastructure connected people with disabilities to health promotion resources.
NCPAD joined the field during a cultural shift. Advocates and researchers argued that health promotion should not end with medical treatment. People with disabilities deserve equal access to recreation, physical activity, nutrition education, preventive healthcare, and wellness, the same as everyone else.
Building a National Resource Hub
In the early 2000s, NCPAD primarily focused on education, resource development, and knowledge dissemination, creating one of the first digital libraries for inclusive physical activity, adaptive sports, and disability health.
The center worked with community organizations, schools, fitness professionals, and healthcare providers to raise awareness of the benefits of physical activity for people with disabilities. During this period, NCPAD worked to translate academic research into practical strategies for communities.
Adaptive sports programs were expanding, and conversations about disability inclusion were moving beyond accessibility to full community participation.
Early National Initiatives
Certified Inclusive Fitness Trainer Program
In 2006, NCHPAD developed a formal partnership that continues today with the American College of Sports Medicine to create the Certified Inclusive Fitness Trainer credential.
The certification trains fitness professionals to understand disability inclusion, accessible exercise adaptation, and inclusive wellness practices. The program shifted mainstream fitness education toward topics like accessibility and inclusion, which had received little attention before.
14 Weeks to a Healthier You
In 2008, NCHPAD launched one of its most impactful early programs, 14 Weeks to a Healthier You. This virtual wellness program provided personalized health coaching, nutrition support, and physical activity guidance for people with disabilities. The program demonstrated that telehealth and remote wellness services could effectively support health and wellness long before virtual care became widely adopted nationwide.
2012: Moving to Birmingham and Becoming NCHPAD
A key moment came in 2012, when the center moved from Chicago to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), and partnered with Lakeshore Foundation. The move represented more than a change in geography. It marked a major expansion in mission and scope.
That same year, the organization officially changed its name from the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD) to the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD). By adding the “H” for health, the center broadened its focus beyond exercise to include nutrition, mental wellness, chronic disease prevention, healthcare access, and overall well-being.
Collaborating with UAB and Lakeshore Foundation gave the organization access to experts in research and evaluation, clinical care, adaptive sports, and disability inclusion. This shift showed a change in disability culture. It recognized that health disparities were not individual problems, but systemic public health issues that needed coordinated solutions.
YouTube Channel Launch
In 2013, NCHPAD launched a YouTube channel to expand its digital reach. The channel features adaptive exercises, health education, personal stories, nutrition videos, and wellness resources.
This content became important because disability-focused health resources were often hard to find in traditional media. NCHPAD filled that gap by creating wellness content with people with disabilities at the center.
The organization’s storytelling changed cultural views of disability. It emphasized empowerment, participation, and lived experience instead of limitation.
N-KATS
In 2015, NCHPAD developed the Knowledge Adaptation, Translation, and Scale-Up (N-KATS) framework, an implementation science model designed to accelerate the translation of evidence-based health promotion strategies into community practice for people with disabilities. Developed in collaboration with international knowledge translation expert Dr. Ian Graham, the framework provides a systematic process for identifying and adapting evidence, disseminating tailored resources, supporting local implementation, and scaling successful practices across communities. N-KATS has served as a foundational framework for advancing disability-inclusive health promotion and expanding the reach and sustainability of evidence-based programs nationwide.
NiCIP
In 2016, NCHPAD’s inclusive Community Implementation Process (NiCIP) was started with the goal of funding five states to create Inclusive Health Coalitions to make positive changes for people with disabilities. It provides a framework for implementors to systematically integrate strategies into their health promotion programs that increase disability inclusion while maintaining program fidelity. The NiCIP is a community-engaged process that brings key stakeholders together to guide the selection and implementation of data-driven solutions that promote disability inclusion in and access to health promotion programs.
MENTOR Program
In 2017, the MENTOR program received a grant from the Neilsen Foundation. At the time, the program was only an on-site option for people with spinal cord injuries (SCI). In 2019, the program was later integrated into NCHPAD to serve the broader disability community. Today, MENTOR is one of NCHPAD’s flagship digital health promotion programs. NCHPAD delivers the program remotely, providing a sustainable bridge between healthcare and community-based wellness while promoting the physical, mental, and emotional health of people with mobility limitations. Since 2022, over 4,200 individuals have enrolled in MENTOR. The program is reaching people with disabilities nationwide through partnerships with leading rehabilitation centers, an assistive technology company, and community health and fitness organizations that recruit and refer participants.
2021–Present: Major Growth and NCHPAD Connect
NCHPAD achieved another major milestone in 2021 when CDC support expanded significantly, increasing to $25 million over a five-year period. This investment enabled NCHPAD to expand its national reach and strengthen its capacity for longitudinal data tracking and evaluation, virtual health promotion programming, and implementation science. During this period, NCHPAD implemented a new strategic framework comprising 34 objectives and outcomes, including 17 specifically designed to increase participation in the center’s online health and wellness programs among people with disabilities. This transformational effort included recruiting and training approximately two dozen new staff members and establishing a coordinated national infrastructure that integrated a data coordinating center, expanded virtual health promotion offerings, and strengthened partnerships to increase access to health promotion opportunities for people with disabilities nationwide.
In 2022, NCHPAD relocated to the UAB Wellness, Health, and Research Facility and continued expanding its national network of rehabilitation centers and community organizations. Later that year, NCHPAD launched NCHPAD Connect, a comprehensive digital platform that connects people with disabilities to evidence-based health promotion programs, health coaching, and community wellness opportunities.
NCHPAD Connect marked an important evolution in the organization’s work, building on its longstanding role as a trusted source of information and resources by providing ongoing access to evidence-based wellness programs and personalized support. Since its launch in November 2022, enrollment has grown to more than 5,000 participants, establishing NCHPAD Connect as the nation’s largest database dedicated to the health and wellness of children and adults with mobility limitations. Participants now have access to comprehensive lifestyle wellness programs designed to prevent secondary health conditions and promote long-term well-being. These programs include MENTOR, NCHPAD GROWTH (Growing Resilience Out of Wellness & Thoughtful Habits), Movement-to-Music (M2M), and GLB-AIM DPP.
This shift matched a growing national recognition of major health disparities among people with disabilities. These include higher chronic disease rates, reduced access to preventative care, and more social isolation.
Over the years, NCHPAD has expanded its reach beyond traditional programs and resources by creating new opportunities for connection, education, and community engagement. In August of 2021, NCHPAD launched the Coffee Club to offer a virtual space where participants can build community, exchange ideas, and engage in meaningful discussions with others nationwide. The Coffee Club has grown to over 300 members and continues to provide sessions twice a month.
The Wellness, Health & Everything Else podcast was created in 2024 to share conversations with researchers, advocates, healthcare professionals, and individuals with lived experience, addressing topics that influence health and wellness and providing information to enhance the lives of individuals with mobility limitations.
Additionally, NCHPAD supports the arts as a means of representation through annual art events that celebrate creativity, self-expression, and the diverse talents of people with disabilities. In 2026, NCHPAD had its largest art event, Every Body Blooms, a disability-centered fashion experience in Birmingham, Alabama.
Collectively, these initiatives demonstrate NCHPAD’s ongoing growth and commitment to promoting well-being and fostering a connected community.
Looking Ahead
Today, NCHPAD is a national implementation science and public health practice center. Its work covers community engagement, digital and telehealth programming, professional training, knowledge dissemination, and disability wellness advocacy. With the rapid growth of internet access over the past five years, millions of people with disabilities across the United States can now access NCHPAD’s expanding portfolio of online programs.
Despite significant progress, a gap between rehabilitation, public health, and long-term wellness continues to exist for many people with disabilities. NCHPAD has made substantial efforts to help close this gap by extending evidence-based health promotion and wellness programs beyond traditional clinical and community settings directly into homes nationwide. Through its continued emphasis on accessibility, telehealth, community engagement, and disability-inclusive public health practice, NCHPAD remains committed to narrowing this divide and expanding opportunities for people with disabilities to achieve lifelong health, participation, and well-being.
As disability culture evolves toward greater visibility, representation, and accessibility, NCHPAD remains key to that progress. The organization helps communities, healthcare systems, and groups rethink inclusive health promotion for future generations.