HHS Will Launch New Program Supporting Physical Activity for Children and Youth with Disabilities 5/19/2004
From: HHS Press Office, 202-690-6343 WASHINGTON, May 19 -- HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson this month will launch a new program to support good health and physical activity for the 6 million American children and youth who have disabilities. Joined by more than 50 participating national organizations, the initiative is being led by HHS' Office on Disability in collaboration with the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS). The new "I Can Do It, You Can Do It" initiative will be launched at a celebration at HHS headquarters on May 26, led by the Surgeon General and featuring people with disabilities who have successfully put physical activity into their lives. The May 26 ceremony will take place at 1:30 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. Press and interested members of the disability community are welcome. Under the initiative, the partner organizations will help bring together physically fit mentors with young people with disabilities to help increase appropriate physical activity and good nutritional habits as an important part of their lives. Mentors will include young adults and adults, both with and without disabilities. Participants will be eligible for physical activity awards from the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. "Everyone knows that physical activity is one of the essential keys to good health, and anyone who has ever seen the Paralympic Games knows that people with disabilities can be capable of remarkable physical achievements," Secretary Thompson said. "Yet we have been too slow to embrace and accommodate the needs of people with disabilities as we promote physical activity for all Americans. This initiative will be an important step in helping young Americans with disabilities develop the same lifelong good habit of physical activity that we wish for all Americans." Surgeon General Richard Carmona said regular physical activity can be especially important for people with disabilities. "Young people with disabilities are at extra high risk for many of the complicating diseases and conditions that can come with inactivity," Dr. Carmona said. "It's especially important for us to reach out and help these young people finds ways to get active and develop good nutritional habits." The May 26 event will feature special activity exhibits, including a climbing wall with adaptive equipment for children with different kinds of disabilities, an obstacle course for wheelchair users, table tennis and golf for children with disabilities, plus bowling for children with physical limitations, including those who are blind. The exhibits will be demonstrated by children from Catherine T. Reed School in Lanham, Md. The exhibits will be staffed by volunteers, including climbers Tom Whittaker (creator of the Cooperative Wilderness Handicapped Outdoor Program at Idaho State University and first disabled person to reach the summit of Mt. Everest); and Mark Wellman (former member of the U.S. Disabled Ski Team, who also completed a 13-day ascent of Half Dome in Yosemite); as well as U.S. Army Capt. David Rozelle, recently featured in USA TODAY for his plans to resume active duty following a land mine explosion that took his right foot in Iraq last year. "On May 26, we will recognize both the need for this program and the hard work ahead for all the partners who have agreed to help bring mentors and mentees together to provide individualized programs of physical activity for young Americans with disabilities," said Margaret Giannini, director of the HHS Office on Disability. Participants in the program will be eligible to earn awards sponsored by the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, the "Presidential Active Lifestyle Award" and the "Presidential Champions Award." "We want the President's Council awards to be available to all Americans to encourage physical activity as part of our lives, and we are very happy to be able to make these awards available to young people with disabilities," said Melissa Johnson, PCPFS director. (A list of current participating organizations follows.) National Initiative on Physical Fitness for Children with Disabilities PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS: American Academy of Pediatrics; American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; American Association for Active Lifestyles and Fitness; American Association of People with Disabilities; American Association on Health and Disability; American College of Sports Medicine; American Council of the Blind; American Network of Community Options and Resources; American Physical Therapy Association; American Speech-Language-Hearing Association; American Therapeutic Recreation Association; Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs; Association of University Centers on Disabilities; Bowling Proprietors of America; Council for Exceptional Children, National Education Association; Diabetes and Wellness Foundation; Disabled American Veterans; Disabled Sports USA; Division of Nutrition Research Coordination; Exceptional Parent; Family Voices, National Office; Kevin Saunders Health and Fitness Tour of America; Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health; National Alliance for Accessible Golf; National Association for the Deaf; National Association of State Directors of Special Education; National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research; National Consortium for African American Children; National Consortium of Physical Education and Recreation for the Disabled; National Council on Disability; National Disability Sports Alliance; National Council on Independent Living; National Industries for Severely Handicapped; National Spinal Cord Injury Association; National Wheelchair Sports Fund; Nova Southeastern University; Paralyzed Veterans of America; Partners for Youth with Disabilities at Boston; Potomac Valley USA Adapted Swim Program; Rehabilitation Services Administration, US Department of Education; Shake-a-Leg, Miami; Show Me Aquatics and Fitness; Spina Bifida Association of America; Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children; The Arc of the United States; U.S. Association of Blind Athletes; United Cerebral Palsy Association; University of Illinois at Chicago, National Center on Physical Activity and Disability; United States Golf Association; U.S. Olympic Committee, Community Based Organizations and Armed Forces Council; Veterans Administration Medical Centers; Young America Bowling Alliance -- Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news |