Safe Routes to School (http://www.saferoutespartnership.org/) is an international initiative to make active travel to school safe, convenient and fun for children to walk and bike to school everyday. October is Walk to School Month in the United States and International Walk to School Day occurred on Oct. 3, 2007. Walking and bicycling to school among school-aged children has decreased from approximately fifty percent to less than fifteen percent over the past forty years. Walk to School is an important event to help reverse the decline of children walking and bicycling to school. Active travel is crucial for improving community and personal healthy, benefiting the environment, increasing safety and helping to decrease traffic and congestion around schools.

Development of healthy behaviors is established during childhood. Including children of all abilities in this health initiative encourages and empowers them to establish active lifestyles. Children with disabilities can and should be included in the Walk to School Month. NCHPAD has a few helpful tips to make this fun, easy and successful for everyone.

• Market the event for all children by adding a picture of a student using a mobility device; remember to include wheeling or rolling in your title!
• Survey the walking/wheeling path for safety and accessibility
• Determine a reasonable distance to walk/wheel that is based on the child's ability
• Plan walking/wheeling or other physical activities on school grounds if the school route is unsafe or inaccessible...Be creative!
• If children take the bus to school, plan in advance to have the school bus drop off the children 1-2 blocks from the school. A principal or designated school official can walk/wheel with the children to school
• Encourage interaction and social opportunities for children with and without disabilities by using the buddy system
• Ask adapted physical education teachers to adapt activities for students that may need accommodations
• Children are full of energy and ideas. Ask for their input into planning activities that include children of all abilities

Obtain more materials at http://www.walktoschool.org. Contact the National Center for Safe Routes to School toll-free at 1-866-610-SRTS with questions or to receive brochures and toolkits for sponsoring an event in your area.

Inclusive Fitness Trainer Beta Exam, Oct 1-Nov.12

ACSM is pleased to announce a collaboration with the National Center on Health, Physical Activity, and Disability (NCHPAD) to offer a specialty certification. This certification is an industry-first for professionals working in the health and fitness field, specifically to work with individuals with disabilities.

There are 50 million people (approximately 20%) in the United States that have reported some type of disability. ACSM professionals have the potential to make a significant contribution by earning the specialty certification to safely and effectively work with people with disabilities. ACSM and NCHPAD are performing BETA testing in preparation for a live exam. BETA testing begins Monday, October 1, 2007 with a final testing date of Monday, November 12th.

The BETA exam is offered through Authorized Pearson VUE® Testing Centers. Individuals interested in BETA testing must meet the eligibility requirements to participate. The cost of the BETA exam is $99USD and is a voucher-only exam. Individuals who would like to participate must request a voucher through the ACSM National Office by calling 317-637-9200 ext 115 or e-mailing certification@acsm.org. Once the candidate has confirmed eligibility and received the voucher, he/she can register on-line at http://www.pearsonvue.com/ or by calling (888)-883-2276.

Registration is now open.

For more information, go to: http://www.ncpad.org/503/2393/Inclusive~Fitness~Trainer~Certification.

Visit the NCHPAD Booth at the APHA Annual Meeting and Expo!

2007 Annual Meeting & Exposition of the American Public Health Association (APHA), November 3-7, 2007, Washington, D.C.

This premier Public Health Educational Forum brings together experts in the field to talk about cutting edge research and exceptional best practices and discover the latest public health products and services. It attracts more than 13,000 national and international physicians, administrators, nurses, educators, researchers, epidemiologists, and related health specialists. APHA's meeting program addresses current and emerging health science, policy, and practice issues in an effort to prevent disease and promote health. For more information, go to http://www.apha.org/meetings/ or call 202-777-APHA.

Visit the NCHPAD Booth at booth #531.

October Health Observances:

• Healthy Lung Month
• Lupus Awareness Month
• Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• Chiropractic Month
• National Disability Employment Awareness Month
• National Down syndrome Awareness Month
• National Physical Therapy Month
• National Spina Bifida Awareness Month
• Child Health Day
• Sacrcoidosis Awareness Day
• World Mental Health Day
• Bone and Joint Decade National Action Week
• National Health Education Week
• Respiratory Care Week
• International Stuttering Awareness Day
• Interstitial Cystitis Awareness Day

Contact an Information Specialist: Do you have questions regarding physical activity and disability? We offer a free information service on a wide area of topics related to physical activity, fitness, recreation, sports, and disability and chronic conditions. Complete an online request form at: http://www.ncpad.org/contact/ or call us toll-free at 800-900-8086.