title: Community fitness programs: what is available for children and youth with motor disabilities and what do parents want?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical activity is recognized as a rehabilitation approach for individuals with motor disabilities.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether community fitness programs were accommodating children and youth with motor disabilities, and to understand family perspectives on important outcomes related to fitness programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Telephone survey and qualitative interviews.
  
  
  METHODS
  Representatives of 61 fitness programs/facilities and 13 parents of children with motor disabilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Telephone survey (facilities) and qualitative interviews (parents).
  
  
  RESULTS
  24.6% of programs reported lack of wheelchair accessibility. Only 9.8% of programs and facilities required their staff to have training to support individuals with disabilities. Parents discussed barriers, including lack of staff support and challenges with finding information about community programs. Parents focused on the social benefits of fitness programs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Additional efforts toward reducing access barriers are needed. Parents' focus on social outcomes has direct implications on the design and evaluation of fitness programs.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Clinical Support, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital , Edmonton, Alberta , Canada.
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wiart
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Darrah
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Legg
mesh_terms: D000416:Alberta; D002648:Child; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D010809:Physical Fitness
keywords: accessibility; community; fitness; motor disability