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Key Issues
Why is the Inclusive Fitness Coalition Important?
It is estimated that 50 million people have some type of disability. This significant portion of the population faces some of the greatest health risks associated with sedentary lifestyles. The Inclusive Fitness Coalition developed out of the need to address these health issues and create a united effort to increase access to and participation in physical activity for people with disabilities.
Some of the key issues include:
ACSM and NCPAD Specialty Certification
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) is pleased to announce a collaboration with the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD) to offer a specialty certification. This certification is an industry-first for professionals working in the health and fitness field, specifically to assist in fully including individuals with disabilities into various exercise environments, including health club, outdoor and home-based settings.
There are 50 million people (approximately 20%) in the United States that have reported some type of disability. ACSM professionals have the potential to make a significant contribution by earning the specialty certification to safely and effectively assist in the inclusion of people with disabilities into various exercise settings. The role of this certified professional would be to assess the needs of a person or a program and follow these basic steps to ensure that all people are given the same opportunity to participate in physical activity.
Support for the IFC
Kester Edwards, Former Special Olympics Athlete and Current Healthy Athletes Outreach Coordinator
"At an early age, physical activity was the greatest thing that could have happened to me. Through my participation as an athlete and a former Special Olympics competitor, my life has been given courage, determination, and inspiration. Why is it that community fitness centers always see working with people with disabilities as an add-on or more work? The Inclusive Fitness Coalition is about building bridges in communities by focusing on fitness for all."