Assistive Technology to Promote Physical Activity in Students With Disabilities

Overview of Physical Activity and Disability

The benefits of physical activity are well-established and can help individuals maintain and improve health, function, and overall well-being (Physical Activity Guidelines [PAG] Advisory Committee, 2018; Piercy & Troiano, 2018). The PAG recommends a combination of aerobic activity (150–300 minutes of moderate intensity or 75–150 minutes of vigorous intensity) and muscle strengthening activities two or more days per week. While the percentage of children and adults who engage in these recommended levels of physical activity is low, it is even lower for individuals with disabilities (Carroll et al., 2014). Physical inactivity is consistently lower across disability categories including: intellectual disability (Frey et al., 2008; Pitetti et al., 2013), autism spectrum disorder (Srinivasan et al., 2014; McCoy et al., 2016), and physical disabilities (Longmuir & Bar-Or, 2000). Youth and adolescents with disabilities are more obese compared to peers without disabilities (Kim et al., 2013; Kim & Greaney, 2014) and are more likely to later develop secondary conditions such as depression, diabetes, and heart disease (Carroll et al., 2014; Rimmer et al., 2011). Establishing regular engagement in physical activity during childhood can help mitigate these concerns and promote healthy habits.