Exercise Guidelines for Individuals with Neuromuscular Disabilities - CEPA Webinar
Thursday, June 18, 2009
12:00-1:00 pm ET (9:00-10:00 am PT)
Presented by: Dr. James Rimmer, University of Illinois at Chicago, this webinar hosted by the Clinical Exercise Physiology Association (CEPA) will focus on health issues and exercise guidelines for people with musculoskeletal/neuromuscular disabilities. It will also will present an overview of resources available to professionals through The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability.
Spirit and Success in Motion
A Celebration of Sports and Life Achievement of People with Disabilities
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009
5:00 - 6:15 p.m.
Pre-Conference at American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting
Seattle, Washington
Sheraton Seattle Hotel, Willow Room
Featuring the President of the International Paralympic Committee, Sir Philip Craven, and Dr. Jim Rimmer, Director of the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability, the human spirit will be celebrated in this preconference. Elite sport for persons with a physical impairment will be the topic of the evening with Sir Philip providing his insight as both a world class athlete and holder of the highest office within the Paralympic Movement. Dr. Rimmer will be discussing the grass roots approach within the United States to get more people with a physical impairment more physically active. Sir Philip and Dr. Rimmer will be joined by ACSM President Dr. Mindy Millard-Stafford and International Paralympic Committee Sports Science Committee member Dr. Walt Thompson and a Paralympic athlete.
March 2009 Member Newsletter
Click here to download a pdf copy of the March 2009 Member Newsletter that updates IFC Members on the coalition's activities and how it plans to close the gap associated with the lack of access to fitness centers and other recreational venues for people with disabilities.
To view and download older copies of the IFC Newsletter please use this link: http://incfit.org/node/112 or click on the Newsletter link at the top of this page!
We are pleased to announce Amy Jaffe Barzach as the winner of the 2008 Martha Stewart Dreamers in DOERS award!
Please use this link to learn more!
Amy Jaffe Barzach, Chairwoman of our Inclusive Play Workgroup, was just announced as the winner of the 2008 Martha Stewart Dreamers into Doers Award. Amy and a videotaped segment featuring Boundless Playgrounds - and the announcement of the award winner - appeared on The Martha Stewart Show on Wednesday, November 12. Amy has won $10,000 and lifetime vacations from Wyndham!The segment featuring Amy was truly inspirational as it highlighted the work Amy has done to bring awareness to the topic of inclusive and accessible playgrounds for children and their families.
To learn more check out Amy's page on the Martha Stewart website (www.marthastewart.com/dreamers) or use the link listed above!
Participants Needed! New Research Study Focusing on Health of Children with Disability
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago are looking for assistance in recruiting parents and their children to participate in an internet-based survey on the health of children with disability. Currently, researchers are looking for Children with disabilities aged 12-18 and their parents/caregivers to complete an internet-based survey on the lifestyle and environment of adolescents with disabilities. This survey can be found by visiting the following link: www.healthforyouth.org and entering the access code: IFC1.
For more information, visit http://incfit.org/node/159, or contact Brienne Davis in the Department of Disability and Human Development at bdavis7@uic.edu or 312-355-4054.
2008 Inclusive Fitness Coalition Stakeholder Strategy Session
The meeting took place at the first-ever Inclusive Fitness Conference on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (CDT) at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.
For more information about this strategy session, including a participant list, agenda and detailed minutes report go to http://incfit.org/node/149.
September, 2008 Member Newsletter
Click here to download a pdf copy of the September, 2008 Member Newsletter that updates IFC Members on the coalition's activities and how it plans to close the gap associated with the lack of access to fitness centers and other recreational venues for people with disabilities.
To view and download older copies of the IFC Newsletter please use this link: http://incfit.org/node/112 or click on the Membership tab link at the top of the page and look under Newsletter!
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.
For more information, go to http://incfit.org/node/137
Campaign promotes exercise for the disabled
BY JOHN HANC
Special to Newsday
February 20, 2007
Long Islanders involved in sports and fitness for the disabled reacted cautiously to the news of a major national initiative designed to encourage physical fitness among the mentally and physically challenged.
"This probably should have been done 10 or 15 years ago," says physical therapist Phil Kreuter of Glen Cove, who has spent much of his nearly 30- year career working with amputee athletes.
"It's been a long time coming," says Gerri Walsh of Cold Spring Harbor, whose son, Jesse Walsh, now 22, won 10 medals in the Junior Paralympics as a teenager, in addition to competing as an athlete for Cold Spring Harbor High School while in a wheelchair.
Wheelchair marathoner Peter Hawkins of Malverne tried hard to sound enthusiastic about the new initiative. "It's not that I'm skeptical, but ... "
Lofty goals
The coalition's stated mission is ambitious: to "reduce substantially in this country and internationally health problems associated with disabilities and inactive lifestyles."
Given the obstacles and frustrations that disabled individuals, their families and those who work with them face in almost every aspect of life, it's no surprise when grand pronouncements from Washington are greeted with, at best, polite applause. What few would disagree on, however, is the scope of the problem: Less than 25 percent of Americans with physical or cognitive disabilities get enough exercise.
"The cost to individuals in terms of quality of life, and to the nation in terms of health-care dollars, is staggering and unacceptable," says Dr. James Rimmer, co-chairman of the Inclusive Fitness Coalition, the organization formed to spearhead the new initiative.
Rimmer and his coalition partner, Dr. James Whitehead of the American College of Sports Medicine, have brought together 36 organizations - ranging from the American Disability Association to the Special Olympics - to try to tackle the problem. Considering that there are 50 million Americans with disabilities, it's a formidable one - made even more difficult by decades of misunderstanding about the importance of exercise for those with physical and mental challenges.
That, in essence, is what the newly formed coalition, which announced its agenda at a news conference in Washington on Jan. 24, is all about. Rimmer, a longtime researcher and advocate for the disabled, is well aware of the need for action in this area. "I agree that it's past due," he said of this initiative, which also aims "to bring two communities together who don't necessarily talk ... the disabled community and the fitness community."
The initial plan is to create partnerships with the fitness industry to expand accessibility of training facilities; to develop certifications for fitness professionals to help work with the disabled; to galvanize the support of physicians, health care providers and legislators alike to lower the obstacles and help convince disabled individuals to do what everyone should be doing: getting more physically active.
To read more and access link to original article: http://incfit.org/node/99
- John Hanc
Copyright (c) 2007, Newsday, Inc.
"Fitness a Struggle for Disabled People"
This Associated Press article ran nationally (i.e. New York Times, Washington Times, Washington Post) on April 16, 2007.
By: Tom Breen
Associated Press Author
To access an online copy of the article, please go to http://ap.washingtontimes.com/dynamic/stories/F/FITNESS_DISABILITIES?SITE=DCTMS&SECTION=HOME
"Mentor recalled as Disabilities Act anniversary nears"
Blair Wing reflects on improvements in accessibility in the following story, published on Tuesday, July 31, 2007, in the Poughkeepsie Journal in New York.
Link to the full story at http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070731/COLUMNISTS/707310318
For more information visit: http://incfit.org/node/129
Inclusive Play for ALL Children: The Opportunities are Boundless!
Amy Rauworth recently had the opportunity to attend the grand opening of the Can-Do Playground on July 11, 2007 in Wilmington, Delaware as a representative of the Inclusive Fitness Coalition (IFC). This Boundless® playground, like many others, is a place where children of all abilities can join in the fun. A Boundless® playground celebrates the principles of universal design while addressing the developmental needs of children.
To read more about the Can-Do playground, Boundless Playgrounds, and the importance of inclusive play for ALL children, go to Amy's article at http://www.ncpad.org/fitt/fact_sheet.php?sheet=545
Successful Launch!
Jim Rimmer and Jiim WhiteheadThe Inclusive Fitness Coalition was launched with powerful momentum before a capacity crowd at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on January 24th. Pictured here at the launch are the co-chairs of the coalition, James H. Rimmer of the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability and the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Recreational Technologies and Exercise Physiology Benefiting Individuals With Disabilities and James R. Whitehead of the American College of Sports Medicine.
Speakers represented a wide range of sectors and included:
- Congressman Zach Wamp (TN3) - Chair of the House Fitness Caucus
- Margaret Giannini, MD, FAAP - Director of the Office on Disability (Health and Human Services)
- Tammy Duckworth, PhD - Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs
- John Mason, Jr. - Wheelchair athlete
- Kester Edwards - Special Olympics employee, former board member and medalist
- Terri Rozaieski - Former Paralympic fencer, former Ms. Wheelchair America
- Amy Jaffe Barzach - Executive Director/co-founder of Boundless Playgrounds
- Neal Pire - Fitness industry consultant and long-time trainer
- Gary Patti - Owner of Parisi Sports Clubs
- Larry Labiak - Disability Policy Officer for Chicago Parks and Recreation
