As we finalize plans to attend the Medical Fitness Association Conference (MFA) in Orlando Florida and present Strength Conditioning for Individuals with intellectual, cognitive and developmental disabilities”, I remember the first discussions our trainers and friends had about designing a piece of fitness equipment to make specific strength and cardio exercises easier to perform for clients with disabilities.
My efforts to walk without devices frequently remind me of trying to unscramble a scrambled egg. An egg cannot be unscrambled because once heat is applied it changes the composition of the egg. Similarly, I am trying to defy existing patterns and mechanics I have used for 30 years to move and learn new ones.
This GPS unit is perfect for someone on the go, who wants to find their way around town using voice rather than vision. The GPS unit “Where Am I” tool gives you your precise location and a description of what is around you; and even allows you to save your destinations and trips so that you can use them again (called geotagging).
Peer Support & Inclusive Recreation and Leisure
The concept of “inclusive recreation” has become more evident in literature since the late 1990s. Bullock defines inclusion in the context of recreation as “providing opportunities for a participant to choose to be with their peers in ‘regular’ recreation settings.”[i]
Can you believe it? The newest research tells us that riding an exercise bike at the gym – going “all out” ten times in a row for one minute at a time (resting for a minute between sprints)- and doing that three times a week, is as good as riding a bike the regular way for 10 hours.
Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? Questions are the very things that keep us yearning, empowered, informed, and connected. They are far more powerful than most of us realize. They are capable of giving us understanding in something where there previously was none.
You have likely seen one of these headlines recently, “1 in 8 Baby Boomers will develop Alzheimer’s”, “An increasing number of families can’t afford to put their loved ones in a nursing facility” and “What Happens When Autistic Kids Grow Up?
Artists Unlimited is a nonprofit organization established in 2003. It provides art education and skill building as well as a variety of vocational opportunities in the visual arts for people with mental, developmental and physical disabilities.
About 3 years ago we were introduced to the Fox hit TV show “Glee”. The show became an instant favorite with fans and continues to have a large following today. The show is a combination of singing, drama and comedy all rolled into one. A few seasons ago, Glee introduced a new character to the John Adams High Crew, Becky Johnson; she was to become the newest member of the cheerleading squad. For me, new addition of Becky to the Glee cast was great because Becky is an individual with Down Syndrome. Though Becky Johnson, played by Lauren Potter, is not the first Glee cast member with a disability, the fact that the show decided to add another character with a disability spoke volumes to me about the show and producers behind it.
Have you ever wondered how many calories your daily activities burn?
