Get Active: A School-Based Approach to Promoting Physical Activity for Children with Disabilities

In 2020 the World Health Organization published a new set of guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviors. These guidelines include recommendations for children living with disabilities to participate in 60 minutes daily of moderate to vigorous physical activity. However, school-age children with physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and autism face multiple challenges in accessing physical activity opportunities. In a national sample, only 19% of children with developmental disability actually met the recommendations. The result is an increase in sedentary behaviors with detrimental effects on overall health.
Participating in physical activity improves health (impairments), functional mobility (activity) and engagement in the environment (participation). The school environment is uniquely positioned to create a culture of physical activity and support mobility in children and youth with disabilities. Pediatric physical therapists can shape and promote activity behaviors for students in a safe environment where they can build functional mobility and participation into daily school activities.
This presentation will review the status of physical activity research, interventions and outcome measures for youth with specific disabilities. The ICF F-Words model will provide the framework to underscore childhood disability. The presentation will outline best practices for school-based physical therapy and activity intervention with special consideration for students with significant physical challenges. A discussion around barriers and facilitators to activity participation will be included. Emerging evidence around effective modalities such as adaptive cycling to improve fitness and function and their role in the school day will be discussed.