image states fitness recreation and sport

Poor health is a national epidemic among people in general but even more so among people with disability. In fact nearly half of all adults with disabilities get no aerobic physical activity and they are 3 times more likely to have heart disease, stroke, diabetes or cancer than those without. Adults with disability are often ignored by the fitness community because some health professionals consider health and disability an oxymoron when in fact it is not.  More often than not people with disability can be physically active and even meet the Surgeon General's recommendations. In this section you will find trainings appropriate for the fitness and recreation professionals on the inclusion of people with disability.

Principles of Adaptation

This course will take fitness professionals through the principles of adaptation in a fitness setting as well as cover the best practices for specific disability groups. 

Disability Education

There are over 54 million American’s living with a disability. People with a disability are a largely underserved population, often this is due to a lack of knowledge on how to reach, address, and serve these individuals. This presentation will address communication tips and proper disability etiquette for individuals with sensory, intellectual and physical disabilities. It will also briefly discuss the barriers these individuals face towards participation and how to address them.  Finally, this presentation will look at the definition of inclusion and what that means for effective communication.


Fitness Professionals

This course provides presentations to fitness professionals on a number of inclusive fitness topics.

Terms and Conditions

There are a number of common terms and conditions referenced when working with individuals with a disability. As a fitness instructor you should be aware of these terms and their definitions as well as these common conditions and the effects they could have on an individual.