The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and recreation for people with disabilities. A prospective non-randomized feasibility study of an online membership-based fitness program for promoting physical activity in people with mobility disabilities. Emergency preparedness for people with spinal cord injury (SCI). ADA Success Stories. Webinar: Encouraging Work and Volunteering for Living Well. Webinar: Building KT Capacity Through Business Relationships. Fit With Us study. NDEAM poster.
NARIC News:
ADA Celebration Month continues with a look at how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has opened opportunities for recreation for people with disabilities. Parks, beaches, campgrounds, and other recreational facilities have responsibilities under the ADA and other laws to ensure access for people with disabilities. Visit our Spotlight blog for examples of helpful resources from the ADA National Network Regional Centers to help owners, builders, and managers learn how to welcome people with disabilities, from small changes in policies and procedures to integrating universal design into new projects.
This Just In:
A prospective non-randomized feasibility study of an online membership-based fitness program for promoting physical activity in people with mobility impairments. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, Volume 10(101). NARIC Accession Number: J94159.
New to the NARIC collection, this NIDILRR-funded study assessed the feasibility of delivering an online community membership-based fitness program for individuals with mobility impairments including individuals with stroke, post-polio, arthritis, neuropathy, cerebral palsy, and obesity. During the 8-week program, activity options included 16 pre-recorded videos and 9 live exercise classes and participants had an opportunity to earn 3 exercise incentives for reaching certain activity milestones. Most participants (78.8 percent) completed the online program. Over 8 weeks, participants attended an average of 12.8 online classes and watched 128 minutes of pre-recorded videos. Self-reported physical activity showed the largest improvement. The online program demonstrated preliminary effectiveness in increasing physical activity and was found to be feasible and acceptable. Access the full abstract and ordering information in REHABDATA.
Resource Highlight:
Emergency Preparedness Factsheet for People with SCI
The NIDILRR-funded Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC) (90DPKT0009) published a factsheet, Emergency Preparedness Factsheet for People with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). The factsheet offers guidance on the steps that people with SCI can take to prepare for and enhance their safety during an emergency. These include creating essential kits, identifying emergency support networks and disability- and event-specific access needs, having a communication plan, and more.
News from the NIDILRR Community:
Success Stories Highlight Impact of the ADA National Network
The NIDILRR-funded ADA Network Knowledge Translation Center (90DPAD0004) published two new Success Stories, highlighting the impact of the ADA National Network Regional Centers in helping people with disabilities, businesses, agencies, and organizations understand their rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Architect Learns About ADA Compliant Handrails shares how an architect on a shopping mall project learned that some designs create barriers for people with disabilities, leading to guideline updates for future projects. Heart Monitoring Devices Allowed on the Job Thanks to the ADA spotlights how a healthcare worker and her employer worked together to accommodate her wearable heart monitor on the job.
Events:
Webinar: Community Chat - Encouraging Work and Volunteering for Living Well
The NIDILRR-funded Temple University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Community Living and Participation of People with Serious Mental Illnesses (90RTCP0009) will host a webinar, Community Chat: Encouraging Work and Volunteering for Living Well, July 30th, 2:30 - 3:30 pm ET. Presenters will explore how advocates can support people with mental health conditions in finding meaningful work and volunteer opportunities. Presenters will share their knowledge on navigating volunteering as a steppingstone to employment, managing the emotional side of job searching, and finding opportunities after job loss, among other topics. Registration is free and required.
Webinar: Building Knowledge Translation Capacity Through Business Relationships - Workforce Needs Strategies for Researchers
The NIDILRR-funded Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment Research (KTER) (90DPEM0011) will host a webinar, Building Knowledge Translation Capacity Through Business Relationships: Workforce Needs Strategies for Researchers, August 5th, 2 - 3 pm ET. Presenters will lead a practical discussion on how researchers can build meaningful partnerships with businesses to strengthen knowledge translation (KT) and disability employment research. Presenters will explore strategies for engaging employers, building trust, navigating structures, and using business insights to develop more relevant research, dissemination products, and implementation strategies. Registration is free and required.
Opportunity to Participate:
Fit With Us Study
The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Recreational, Sport, and Exercise Technologies for People with Disabilities (90REGE0019) seeks participants for the Fit With Us study to evaluate the responsiveness of an accessible and multi-modal online exercise program for people with disabilities. Participants must be 18 years or older and have a physical disability that limits their mobility. Eligible participants will use an online telehealth platform and physical activity tracker and will have access to educational content. Participants will receive up to a maximum of $100 for participating in the study and may keep their activity tracker. Additional eligibility and study information are available on the website. For additional questions, contact 659/273-3627 or fitwithus@uab.edu.
Elsewhere in the Community:
NDEAM Poster Is Now Available
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) at the Department of Labor released the 2026 National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) Poster. The poster highlights the 2026 NDEAM theme: Celebrating Value and Talent, which recognizes the skills and contributions of people with disabilities add to workplaces, communities, and the economy. The poster is available to download in standard (PDF) and customizable formats (PDF).