NCHPAD would like to hear from you! This month, NCHPAD begins a feature on personal success stories from the field. Are you a person with a disability who has overcome difficulties through your involvement in exercise, recreation, and/or sport? Are you a health care practitioner or caregiver assisting persons with disabilities to increase involvement in physical activity? How has NPCAD helped you in your quest for improved fitness? Send stories to jegray@uic.edu. If your story is used, we'll send you a NCHPAD t-shirt.

Fitness Can Be Fun! by Candace Bennett

"I've had multiple sclerosis for more than half my life. As my ability to ambulate has receded, I've needed to devise creative ways to accomplish tasks. I mostly use a motorized scooter, and for short trips around my house, I use a walker. That means that I accomplish as much as possible while seated, i.e., shopping, cooking, and bathing. I even got married sitting down! For me, finding appropriate exercises is very difficult. Since I must stand to ease the continuous strain on my back, working out in a swimming pool is an excellent activity.

Recently I moved from a house to a condominium for greater access to the city. From my new location, I called a NCHPAD information specialist to learn about the location of accessible pools. Then I searched NCPAD's Web site. It provides information on adaptive equipment, programs, and how-to videos, as well as demonstration video clips. This is very reassuring as it demonstrates that I have many more options from which to choose than repetitive movements or low-impact water aerobics. NCHPAD fact sheets and other materials help me to learn water yoga, martial arts, water Pilates, Yogalates, and adapted land sports. I now can be fit and have a lot of fun!"

Read the entire piece at http://www.ncpad.org/282/1795/Fitness~Can~Be~Fun~.