RAISE The Standard, December 2024, v.11 n.2

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Fitness and Wellness

Many youth and young adults with disabilities struggle with fitness. Data show that youth with disabilities are:

• 1.5 to 2 times more likely to experience obesity than their non-disabled peers. In fact, over 38% of youth with disabilities are obese, compared to 18% of non-disabled youth.
• Up to 3 times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than non-disabled youth.
• Less likely to engage in regular physical activity. Only 15% of youth with disabilities are engaged in regular physical activity, compared to 30% of non-disabled youth.
• At greater risk of cardiovascular issues due to lower levels of physical activity.
• More likely to have high blood pressure.
• More likely to experience depression and anxiety. Studies show a 25-50% higher rate of mental health issues among youth with disabilities compared to non-disabled youth.

In this issue of RAISE The Standard, we will explore how youth with disabilities can strengthen their fitness and wellness, both physical and mental.

The Mind-Body Connection is Real

The Mind-Body Connection is very real! Physical activity boosts moods, helps with stress and anxiety, and helps build social connections. Check out “We Got U, U Got This” a London-based mental health campaign from Kensington and Chelsea Council that focuses on fitness.

“Physical activity is really important for emotional well-being because you set yourself personal challenges…”

-   Christopher Herbert, founder of CEO of Fit For Life

Click here to view the Council's 4-minute campaign video.

Adaptive Fitness in Schools

In this 6-minute video, the National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities (NCPEID) describes the importance of teaching fitness skills in school. It also describes how those skills carry over into adult life.

Watch the NCPEID video now.

The Key Components of Adaptive Fitness

1. Individualized Plans – an exercise plan that caters to each person’s specific needs and capabilities. Certified trainers who know about adaptive techniques can help determine best exercises for someone based on muscle strength, range of motion, and personal goals.
2. Specialized Equipment are machines and devices designed to be easily accessible for those with disabilities. For example, an exercise bike with hand pedals allows people with limited leg mobility to work out; adjustable benches and resistance machines can be adjusted for different body types and needs.
3. Inclusive Environment means creating a welcoming environment. Staff members are trained not just in fitness techniques, but also in communication and sensitivity so all people feel welcomed and supported.
4. Peer Support helps participants interact, share experiences, and provide emotional support to each other. This community spirit can be a strong motivator and can help individuals stay committed to their fitness journey.

Do you want to see inclusive fitness in action?

Click here to check out these video workouts and printed materials (in English, Spanish, French Chinese Changes, Russian and Arabic) through Special Olympics.

Need help finding a Fitness Center that works for you?

Click here to check out this video on how to choose one from National Center on Health, Physical Activity, and Disability (NCHPAD).

Fitness Advice

Good fitness advice focuses on what works for YOU, not the preferences or status of the person giving it. The University of Kansas provides exercise tips for people with disabilities, which include some specifics on communication and on reaching out for help:

Someone giving good fitness advice might say:

• Set a goal and go for it. 5-10 minutes 2-3 days a week might be enough to start.
• Find what works for you.
• Schedule physical activity on the calendar.
• If you miss a day, just start tomorrow.
• Be aware of music, workout environment, and other things that help or hinder you.
• Keep track of your progress (journal, chart, calendar, computer, or smartphone).
• Try different activities to find one that works.

Someone giving bad fitness advice might say:

• Work out as much as possible.
• If you cannot do the whole routine, don’t do it at all.
• Do not bother setting a goal if it is small.
• If you miss a workout that means you don’t care.
• If something is hard for you, you must not want to work for it.
• Keep doing exercises even if they hurt and you don’t like it.
• If you can’t ______ (run, walk, lift weights, swim, play games, etc.), then you will never get fit.

See an extended list of good and bad advice by clicking here.

There are eight (8) Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Parent Centers throughout the United States that provide training and programming to youth and young adults with disabilities, their families, professionals, and other Parent Centers. The focus is on issues surrounding youth transition.

RSA Parent Centers are funded by the Rehabilitation Service Administration (RSA) under the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), which is part of the US Department of Education.

In this issue of RAISE The Standard, we focus on B1: Waze to Adulthood (Region B1), provided by Virginia’s Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center: https://peatc.org/services/youth/

This effort aims to provide youth and young adults with disabilities, their families, and the professionals who serve them with up-to-date, high-quality resources, information, and training to meet their diverse needs. PEATC, as the Region B1 RSA Parent Center, works in collaboration with parent training centers and other disability organizations throughout the 6-state region that includes Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia to identify and to address state-specific gaps in services and systems to help improve long term outcomes for individuals with disabilities.



The RAISE Youth Advocates for Change (YAFC) have produced podcasts on topics important to them as youth with disabilities, to amplify the youth voice and support parent centers as they continue to engage with youth and their families.

Click here for Episode 1, on the power of sharing personal stories.

Increasing Physical Activity Among Adults with Disabilities:

https://www.cdc.gov/disability-and-health/conditions/physical-activity.html

Mental Health of People with Disabilities:

https://www.cdc.gov/disability-and-health/articles-documents/mental-health-of-people-with-disabilities.html

Physical Activity for People with Disability:

https://www.cdc.gov/disability-and-health/articles-documents/physical-activity-for-people-with-disability.html

Wellness for People with Disabilities Through Exercise:

https://www.innow.org/2023/09/07/adaptive-fitness-wellness-for-people-with-disabilities-through-exercise/

How to Exercise for Those with Limited Mobility:

https://www.helpguide.org/wellness/fitness/chair-exercises-and-limited-mobility-fitness

Inclusive Fitness:

https://www.specialolympics.org/our-work/inclusive-health/inclusive-gyms

Special Olympics:

https://www.specialolympics.org/

RAISE The Standard enewsletter identifies and shares resources that the Rehabilitation Services Administration Parent Training and Information Centers (RSA-PTI) can use and share with families.

The RAISE Technical Assistance Center is working to advance the accessibility of its digital resources, including its websites, enewsletters and various digital documents.

* For more on SPAN Parent Advocacy Network and all of the complementary programs supported, visit spanadvocacy.org.