The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD) was funded to gather, synthesize, and disseminate information related to physical activity and disability. Over the past two years, NCPAD has compiled a national directory of organizations, programs, and facilities that provide accessible opportunities for physical activity and recreation for people with disabilities. To date this directory has only been annotated by self-report. This study seeks to evaluate the accessibility of these organizations, programs, and facilities by using a 17-item instrument developed to assess: (a) the populations served, (b) the programs focus, e.g. therapeutic, recreational, (b) the types of activities offered, (c) training and accreditation of the staff, (d) the availability of adaptive equipment. Data will be collected from the 3000 programs NCPAD has collected to date, with new programs submitted daily. The results of this research will provide, for the first time, a systematically structured database that will allow consumers, practitioners, and researchers to locate, evaluate, and compare programs. See www.ncpad.org
Learning Objectives: To provide information on the accesibility of physical activity and recreation programs with specific regards to (a) the populations served, (b) the programs focus, e.g. therapeutic, recreational, (b) the types of activities offered, (c) training and accreditation of the staff, (d) the availability of adaptive equipment.
Keywords: Disability, Community Programs
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: The National Center of Physical Activity and Disability at the Department of Disability and Human Development at the University of Illinois at Chicago
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.