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- Title
Self-Esteem through Exercise: "Health & Fitness for All" Including Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
- Authors
Szczapinski, Bridget; Rateri, Debra; Jaspersen, Megan; Mullis, Lindsey; Ickes, Melinda
- Abstract
Individuals with disabilities often suffer from health disparities, including obesity and depression. The purpose of this presentation is to describe Health & Fitness for All, a community-based program which incorporates exercise, universal design, and health coaching for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to encourage a healthy lifestyle. Partnering with the Human Development Institute at the University of Kentucky, the curriculum focus for the month of September was exercise. The overall goal was to develop weekly exercise activity for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, neighbors and friends. Objectives were threefold: introduce participants to varying forms of exercise, demonstrate these exercises and activities in public spaces, and initiate a health coaching dialogue. The following four sessions were implemented: 1) exercise scavenger hunt at the Kentucky Arboretum; 2) hiking and strength training at the Legacy Trail; 3) circuit training and yoga at a local park; and 4) cycling and basketball at a local YMCA. Universal design in the form of letters, numbers, images and stick figures were used for signage. Activities encouraged self-efficacy and relationship development. All sessions included a greeting and introduction from each participant, a warm-up, free choice exercise and partners when required, and a cool-down. Benefits of each exercise were discussed informally during the group activity. Health coaching questioning was posed to the group both preand post-activity. Questions included: How do you feel now (pre-activity)? How do you feel when you exercise? What is your favorite exercise? Would you do this type of exercise again? How do you feel now (post-activity)?
- Subjects
HEALTH equity; DEVELOPMENTAL disabilities; HEALTH coaches
- Publication
Kentucky SHAPE JOURNAL, 2019, Vol 56, Issue 2, p138
- ISSN
1071-2577
- Publication type
Article