Choices and Challenges: Physical Activity and People with Disabilities

While it is widely known that physical activity is a prerequisite to maintaining good health, few Australians and Americans meet the recommended guidelines of 30 minutes of moderate activity per day, for five or more days per week. It is also widely accepted that, if individuals were to adhere to these guidelines, significant physical, social and psychological benefits would be achieved. The same two facts, although not as well researched as in the general population, are becoming more evident for people with disabilities. This article reviews concepts and statistics related to physical activity and people with disabilities in Australia and the United States, highlights the most crucial yet overlooked barriers to physical activity for people with disabilities and reviews considerations for physical activity programming for people with disabilities that have previously gone unrecognised by leisure service providers. The paper seeks to challenge leisure providers to create more and improved and inclusive physical activity programs and discusses various program considerations that would greatly enhance such services. It is argued that, if the health and well-being of individuals with disabilities is truly of concern and if this concern is to be reflected in practice, then leisure and recreation professionals will need to improve their programs in significant ways.