Listed below are a few ways to get involved through NCPAD's various opportunities, both online and otherwise. Share your experiences, make connections, and get involved!
Participate in New NCHPAD Video: The National Center for Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD) and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) are seeking Veterans of the War in Iraq and Afghanistan to participate in the filming of an exercise video for persons with Limb Loss. Filming is scheduled to take place the second week of August 2007; all participants will be compensated for their time. The ideal candidate is an athletic person with amputation between the ages 18-35.
All interested persons can contact NCHPAD at 800-900-8086 or Evan McDowell at RIC at 312-238-5003 or emcdowell@ric.org.
NCHPAD Forums: Click on http://www.ncpad.org/phpBB/ to network, find equipment, locate resources, and gather information about grants and articles, as well as best practices and exercise adherence suggestions.
NCPAD's Online Request Page: Visit NCPAD's online request page at www.ncpad.org/contact/ to request information on the topics of physical activity, fitness, accessibility, recreation, and sports for people with various disabilities and chronic conditions.
NCHPAD Personal Trainers Survey: Personal trainers, add your information to the NCHPAD database/online survey at http://www.ncpad.org/directories/19/Personal~Trainers, and share your fitness knowledge!
NCHPAD in the NEWS
Fun with Water Balloons and Wheelchairs; Kids show everyone can, should enjoy physical activity, June 27, 2007, Washington, D.C.
On June 27, 2007, NCHPAD held a media demonstration on sports and exercise for kids with disabilities at the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) in Washington, D.C. Children with various disabilities attending the daily therapy session at NRH shot hoops, scaled a climber, learned how to keep a tennis volley going, and stayed cool with water balloon activities. Several media outlets were on hand, including the local ABC-7 channel and Felicia Stoler from The Learning Channel's (TLC) Honey We're Killing the Kids.
The news release and high-resolution photos of the children and activities are available at http://www.ncpad.org/get/images/nrhpressrelease/pressrelease.html
Useful NCHPAD resources for kids with disabilities and/or their parents include:
- Parental Roles in Facilitating and Supporting an Active Lifestyle for a Child with a Disability at http://www.ncpad.org/398/2175/Parental~Roles~in~Facilitating~and~Supporting~an~Active~
Lifestyle~for~a~Child~with~a~Disability - Assessing Your Child's Health-Related Physical Fitness at http://www.ncpad.org/89/669/Assessing~Your~Child~s~Health-Related~Physical~Fitness
- Maintaining or Improving Fitness in Childhood Disorders at http://www.ncpad.org/326/1960/Maintaining~or~Improving~Fitness~in~Childhood~Disorders
- Teens on the Move: An Exercise Video for Teens with Spina Bifida at http://www.ncpad.org/416/2237/Teens~on~the~Move~~An~Exercise~Video~for~Teens~with~
Spina~Bifida - Physical Activity and Recreation for Youth with Disabilities: What Parents Need to Know at http://www.ncpad.org/90/684/Physical~Activity~~Leisure~and~Recreation~for~Youth~with~
Disabilities~~A~Primer~for~Parents - Exploring Family Adventure in the Outdoors at http://www.ncpad.org/58/425/Exploring~Family~Adventure~in~the~Outdoors
- Autism and Considerations in Recreation and Physical Activity Settings at http://www.ncpad.org/315/1452/Autism~and~Considerations~in~Recreation~and~Physical~
Activity~Settings
"Strength in Numbers," inMotion Magazine, May/June 2007
A recent article published by the Amputee Coalition of America discusses the benefits of exercising with a group or partner and cites NCPAD's program database as a resource for finding information on group activities in your community. Go to http://www.ncpad.org/directories/15/Programs and search by location and/or activity.
OTHER NEWS
Man with Amputation Hikes Appalachian Trail
Colby Young, a 23-year-old man born with proximal femoral deficiency, has remained wheelchair-free thanks to the many costly surgeries and prosthesis provided by the Shriners Hospital for Children. Young and two others are hiking the 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail in order to raise awareness and money on behalf of the Shriners Hospital and are scheduled to complete their trek this August.
For more information on the Shriners Hospitals for Children, visit their website at www.shrinersshq.org. To assist or donate to Colby Young's hike, send an email to Appalachian_trail_2007@yahoo.com.
Sarah-Jane Indoor Rowing Record Attempt, June 9, 2007
Sarah-Jane set a new world record with her indoor rowing machine and showed that multiple sclerosis need not be a barrier to personal achievement.
Updates Expected for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), The Press-Enterprise, May 27, 2007
By Rodd Cayton
The U.S. Department of Justice will propose new rules related to the ADA sometime in the next few months, involving the following:
- Visible workplace emergency situation alarms.
- Additional wheelchair-accessible seating at entertainment venues.
- One in every six accessible parking spaces to be van-accessible.
- TTY, or text telephone, equipment.
- Wider doorways and entrances to specific structures.
U.S. Access Board Proposes Guidelines for Federal Outdoor Developed Areas
The Board has released for public comment new accessibility guidelines for Federal parks and recreation areas, addressing access to new or altered trails, beaches, and picnic and camping areas on sites managed by the Federal government.
The guidelines are posted at www.access-board.gov/outdoor/nprm/ and are available for comment until October 18. The Board will hold public hearings. For further information, contact Bill Botten at botten@access-board.gov, 202-272-0014 (v), or 202-272-0082 (TTY).
Volunteers Needed for Adaptive Golf Program, North Miami, Florida
A newly formed adaptive golf program is looking for volunteers with disabilities in the North Miami area of Florida. No experience is necessary. This program is not yet equipped to include participants using wheelchairs.
If you are interested, please write to Leo Goldman at 20610 NE 7th Court, N. Miami Beach, FL 33179 and you will be contacted for an interview.
Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) nominated for United Kingdom National Lottery Award, VOTE HERE!
The IFI has been nominated in the Best Health Project category in the National Lottery Awards 2007. The IFI is a unique and pioneering project with a clear ambition: that every person with a disability in England should have access to an inclusive fitness facility within reasonable distance of his or her home.
The National Lottery Awards offer an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of offering access for people with disabilities. The public voting is carried out from July 9 - August 3.
MONTHLY NATIONAL HEALTH OBSERVANCES
July is Recreation and Parks Month, National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)
NRPA also recognizes July 8-14 as National Therapeutic Recreation Week as well as July 10-14 as National Youth Sports Week
For more information, contact the National Recreation and Park Association at 703-858-0784 or dvaira@nrpa.org or go to www.nrpa.org
Useful NCHPAD Resources:
- Searchable database on accessible parks at http://www.ncpad.org/directories/18/Parks
- "Fun and Leisure: Therapeutic Recreation Services" at http://www.ncpad.org/40/296/Therapeutic~Recreation~Services
- "Fun and Leisure: Coaching Adapted Sports" at http://www.ncpad.org/399/2182/Coaching~Adapted~Sports
- "Lifetime Sports: The Rationale and Benefits of Sport Participation for Youth of All Abilities" at http://www.ncpad.org/397/2171/The~Rationale~and~Benefits~of~Sport~Participation~for~
Youth~of~All~Abilities