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NEWS RELEASE
July 28, 2004
Contact: Laurie Jake, ATRA Communications Coordinator
Phone (480) 460-1525 or
Ann D Huston MPA, CTRS
Phone: (703) 683-9420
ATRA Joins HHS National Initiative Supporting Physical Activity For Children And Youth With Disabilities, I Can Do It, You Can Do It
(Alexandria, VA) The American Therapeutic Recreation Association is excited to announce its involvement in a program of national significance to mentor, motivate and assist youth with all disabilities to engage in increased levels of physical activity. The initiative, which originated in the Office of Disability of HHS and in collaboration with the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sport (PCPFS), is based on two key strategies. To encourage an increase in physical activity among youth with disabilities using the PCPFS Presidential Awards program, and the establishment of a national mentoring program.
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson launched the new program to support good health and physical activity for the 6 million American children and youth who have disabilities. “Everyone knows that physical activity is one of the essential keys to good health, and anyone who has ever seen the Paralympic Games knows that people with disabilities can be capable of remarkable physical achievements,” Secretary Thompson said. “This initiative will be an important step in helping young Americans with disabilities develop the same lifelong good habit of physical activity that we wish for all Americans.”
On May 26, ATRA members, Ann Huston, Marcia Smith, Allison Zwanzig, Pam Cauley, and Angie Kiger participated in the National Initiative kick off event in the Great Hall at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, DC. Special activity exhibits, including a climbing wall with adaptive equipment, an obstacle course for wheelchair users, table tennis, golf and bowling were some of the activities that children with various disabilities participated in at the roll out event.
ATRA is one of nearly 50 national organizations that are participating in this presidential initiative, and one of nine organization that have volunteered to pilot the starting the program. ATRA member Marcia Smith, MA., CTRS., H/FI is the association’s official representative to the national initiative. Smith, who works as the Clinical Coordinator of Recreational Therapy at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda MD, is a past ATRA board member. According to Smith, “"ATRA's involvement in this very significant program cannot be underemphasized. The commitment of recreational therapists working with children with disabilities is paramount to provide the skills and abilities for these children and their families to fully participate in life's activities. The HHS initiative is clearly a path to this goal".
The “I Can Do It, You Can Do It” campaign to encourage youth with disabilities to engage in more physical activity, thus improving their health and well-being is based on a mentor ship concept. Under the initiative, ATRA and other partner organizations will help bring together physically fit mentors with young people who have a disability to help increase appropriate physical activity and good nutritional habits as an important part of their lives. Mentors can be adults with and without disabilities. Participants will be eligible for physical activity awards from the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Young athletes can earn the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) by meeting a daily activity goal at least five days a week for six weeks. The program will involve incremental activity and tailoring to individual requirements. The Presidential Champion Award (PCA) is awarded to athletes with disabilities who are already active and are seeking a new challenge. After earning a certain amount of points, the young athletes earn either a Bronze, Silver or Gold medal.
This a great way for Recreational Therapist to get involved in promoting fitness and well being for children with disabilities. For more information, please contact the ATRA National Office at (703) 683-9420.
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The American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) was
founded in 1984 to advance the profession of therapeutic
recreation. ATRA is a non-profit, professional membership
organization dedicating 100% of resources and efforts to
promote therapeutic recreation professionals in health care
and human service settings. For more information, please
contact the ATRA National Office.