Why We Must Prioritize Equitable Access to Physical Activity for Children with Disabilities (www.acsm.org)

Providing children with disabilities equal access to quality education is a central tenet of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This four-part American legislation governs how states, schools and public agencies provide special education and related services to more than 6.5 million children across the country. Within this legislation, students are entitled to free and appropriate public education, including specially designed instruction, supplementary aids and related services based on their Individualized Education Program goals. IDEA is intended to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability at no cost to parents. Despite these important legislative wins, children with disabilities are often overlooked and systematically excluded from physical activity opportunities provided at schools.

​Current evidence suggests that children with disabilities are 4.5 times less likely to engage in physical activity compared to children without disabilities. Contributing factors to this disparity include:

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