Importance of Physical Activity and Exercise

The District of Columbia’s Health Resources Partnership website contains information about physical activity and health for individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.  http://www.dchrp.org/

• Exercise Fact Sheet This is fact sheet about why it is important to exercise and contains a link to a DC community activity calendar http://www.dchrp.org/articles/ExerciseProviders.pdf
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• Physical Activity for Persons with Disabilities: The Game Plan  

The Office of the Surgeon General.  This office of the US Department of Health and Human Services has much information related to physical activity and health for all people.  http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/ Some of the reports and information for and about individuals with disabilities includes:

Surgeon General’s report on Physical Activity and Health

• For individuals with disabilities fact sheet and summary http://www.cdc.gov/NCCDPHP/sgr/fact.htm
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• To view the section of the report on persons with disabilities http://www.cdc.gov/NCCDPHP/sgr/pdf/disab.pdf

The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability(NCPAD)  has a section on the “Rationale and benefits of Sport Participation for Youth of all Abilities”  and the “Parents Roles in Facilitating and Supporting an Active Lifestyle for a Child with a Disability” containing information on the benefits of, the need for parent support and resources on physical activity for youth with disabilities http://www.ncpad.org/lifetime/fact_sheet.php?sheet=449
http://www.ncpad.org/lifetime/

Physical Activities

Move Experience Engage
An exciting new publication that is a calendar of 365 activities designed to be used by individuals providing services to adults with developmental disabilities in community-based residential facilities.  It includes a variety of fun and engaging activities like exercises, cooking and community activities that will help promote health and a sense of well being. A list of exercises and photographs illustrating the exercises is also included.

SENSAtional Ideas A exciting new checklist and activity guide designed to be used by individuals providing services to adults with developmental disabilities. The activities use pleasant scents, sounds and other means to calm, soothe, relax or energize individuals. Click here to download the activity guide and checklist.

The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD) has information on groups for adapted sports http://www.ncpad.org/lifetime/fact_sheet.php?sheet=450&section=2410  

And for information about developmental disabilities and fitness http://www.ncpad.org/disability/fact_sheet.php?sheet=117&section=928

Resources and Links

Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind.  Provides information and activities for children who have blindness or low vision. http://www.clb.org/

Health Services for Children with Special Needs, Inc sponsors Youth Athletic Programs (YAO) and Adapted Sports. Click here for more information or http://hscsn-net.org/node/34

National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD).  Information center on physical activity and disability across the lifespan.
http://www.ncpad.org/

Special Olympics.  Organization that empowers individuals with intellectual disabilities to participate in their communities through activities and sports. http://www.specialolympics.org/   They have local chapters including the District of Columbia http://www.specialolympicsdc.org/templates/System/default.asp?id=40427

DC Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Therapeutic Recreation provides recreation and athletic programs for all ages and abilities.   http://dpr.dc.gov/dpr/cwp/view,a,1241,q,640853.asp

Access and Imagination Stage
Imagination stage offers classes for children with all abilities to access arts and movement. Some classes are designed for specific groups including children who are deaf and hard of hearing.
http://www.imaginationstage.org/fall2009/access-a-inclusion