Decreased physical activity in children and adolescents with physical disabilities is a growing concern in the Boston area.  The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Research Digest reports that physical activity is 4.5 times lower for youth with disabilities than youth without disabilities (Rimmer, 2008). With mobility impairments having such a huge prevalence in today’s society, our practicum project aims to enable individuals of all abilities to participate in active lifestyles.  Our project, entitled Adaptive Sports: Promoting Physical Activity in Adolescents with Physical Disabilities will target enabling factors that contribute to lack of opportunity for such students.

 

Our training website is designed to provide high school track and field coaches with the necessary information to train athletes with physical disabilities in wheelchair racing and seated shot put events.  The goal behind this website is that if track and field coaches have training on equipment use, adaptive sport rules and regulation, and training protocol, they will feel more competent in their ability to coach youth with mobility impairments.  This will foster a welcoming and comfortable environment for the athlete with physical disabilities to grow and thrive in. 

 

 

 

 

 

Acknowledgements

Thank you to our mentor Karen Hutchinson for all your guidance, enthusiasm and support! 

Thank you also to Joe Walsh, Teresa Skinner, Phil Galli and Erica Wheeler for your education and helping us get this project off the ground. Special thanks to all the amazing athletes and coaches we met along the way. We couldn't have done this without you! 

Our Mission