Monthly Archives: May 2012
After much anticipation, last week the Obama Administration sent the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) to the United States Senate for its advice and consent for ratification. After signing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on July 30, 2009, the United States now hopes to become the 113th nation to ratify the treaty. Fortunately, our nation has already established strong support for the rights of people with disabilities through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its 2008 amendments. The Convention now requires a “resolution of ratification” achieved by 2/3 support (67 supermajority vote) in Senate.
The CRPD is the first international treaty to address disability rights globally. While the Convention does not establish new human rights, it does set out greater clarity of the obligations on States to promote, protect and ensure the rights of persons with disabilities. Article 3 of the CRPD sets out the General Principles that apply to the enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities which include:
· Full and effective participation and inclusion in society
· Respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity
· Equality of opportunity
As of May 2012, the Convention has 153 signatories and 112 ratifications. Key U.S. allies such as Australia, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea, and many countries in Europe have already ratified the
For more information on the CRPD we encourage you to view a fantastic presentation delivered by Esmé Grant, JD, Disability Rights Educator at the U.S. International Council on Disability (www.usicd.org) during the BlazeSports 11th Annual Conference on Paralympic Sport and Physical Activity. As Ms. Grant’s presentation details, the CRPD demonstrates a shift in the disability rights structure from previous charitable and medical models to a
more inclusive social framework. The treaty also sets out greater clarity of the obligations of nations to promote, protect and ensure the rights of persons with disabilities including a right to participation in sport and recreation (Article 30). As the United States moves towards ratification of this historic treaty, it is important to have a better understanding of the CRPD and how the U.S. can play a significant role in its implementation. http://www.blazesports.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Treaty-101-How-Does-the-UN-Convention-on-the-Rights-of-Persons-with-Disabilities-Affect-You-CDSS-Level-IV.pdf
On June 13th BlazeSports and the NRPA will present 5
Ways to Make Your Park and Rec Program More Inclusive and Accessible.
your Webinar seat now at:
BlazeSports and the National Recreation and Park Association are pleased to present this session featuring Larry Labiak, Disability Policy Officer for the Chicago Park District.
Obesity rates for adults and children with disabilities are 57% and 38% higher, respectively, than rates for adults and children without disabilities according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reasons for this health disparity vary, including a lack of lack of accessible environments, lack of trained professionals, lack of nutritious food options, physical limitation, and lack of resources among. During this webinar, we will explore how park and recreation departments can make their programs more inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities and open up a whole new world of physical activity, recreation, and outdoor sport opportunities.
Presenter Larry Labiak will discuss best practices in five areas:
1. Innovative Programming
3. Staff Training
On June 20th BlazeSports and the NWBA will present Effective Assessment Techniques for Successful Athlete, Team and Program Development.
your Webinar seat now at:
BlazeSports and the National Wheelchair Basketball Association are pleased to provide this session that will help adaptive sport coaches and program directors understand the importance of assessment as a tool to enhance athlete development, team success and program growth. Simple, effective assessment tools help create program participants who are engaged in and focused on program goals.
Presenter Doug Garner, M.S., M.Ed., Head Wheelchair Basketball Coach at the University of Texas-Arlington will discus best practices in development through the use of assessment tools.
With the weather getting warmer and Memorial Day weekend – the unofficial start to summer – soon upon us, what better time to make a commitment to physical fitness? How fitting then, that May is both National Physical Fitness and Sport Month and Exercise is Medicine Month! BlazeSports invites you to join us in making a commitment to physical activity this month and throughout the summer.
All individuals need health care and a good health regimen to stay well and actively participate in the community. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are many health implications for being overweight. Among the increased risks are: greater risk of hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, some cancers, high cholesterol, osteoarthritis, asthma, and other respiratory problems. For an individual with a disability, understanding how to prevent illness and manage these secondary health conditions is an important part of healthy living.
Physical activity at all ages reduces risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Physically active children, including children with disabilities, are more likely to thrive academically and socially. Physically active children also learn how to incorporate safe and healthy activities into their lives. For adults, physical activity can reduce the risks of secondary health conditions and pain as well as depression.
In 2008 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans to provide information and guidance on the types and amounts of physical activity that provide substantial health benefits for all Americans aged 6 years and older. The report recognizes that one of the most important steps any individual can take to achieve better health is becoming physically active. If you aren’t familiar with the guidelines, we encourage you to use this month’s designation as an impetus to get in the game!
Key Guidelines for Individuals with Disabilities:
• Adults with disabilities, who are able to, should get at least 150 minutes per week (2 hours and 30 minutes) of moderate intensity, or 75 minutes (1 hour and 15 minutes) per week of vigorous intensity aerobic activity, or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous intensity aerobic activity. Aerobic activity should be performed in episodes of at least 10 minutes, and preferably, it should be spread throughout the week.
• Adults with disabilities, who are able to, should also do muscle strengthening activities of moderate or high intensity that involve all major muscle groups on 2 or more days per week as these activities provide additional health benefits.
• Children and adolescents should do 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of physical activity daily. Most of the 60 or more minutes a day should be either moderate or vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity, and should include vigorous intensity physical activity at least 3 days a week. Children and adolescents should include muscle strengthening physical activity and bone strengthening physical activity at least 3 days a week.
• When individuals with disabilities are not able to meet the above Guidelines, they should engage in regular physical activity according to their abilities and should avoid inactivity.
• All individuals should consult their healthcare provider about the amounts and types of physical activity that are
appropriate for their abilities.
For more, visit: http://health.gov/paguidelines/pdf/paguide.pdf
On May 17th, the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF), in collaboration with espnW and Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT), released its 40 FOR 40 list of forty women who made a significant impact on society after playing sports in high school or college during the forty years of the Title IX era. BlazeSports’ Director of Policy and Global Outreach, Ann Cody, was honored as one of the forty women chosen for her contributions.
Ann has been a Washington veteran and Paralympic sport expert for more than two decades serving in various capacities including federal affairs, Paralympic Games management, and as an athlete. Her work on behalf of BlazeSports America and the disability sport movement has significantly increased awareness in Congress and the Executive Branch of the benefits of sports and physical activity for people with disabilities and led to an increased federal commitment to these programs. Ann serves on the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Governing Board and is the highest ranking American and highest ranking woman in the IPC worldwide. She is also a Paralympic Gold Medalist in Athletics and competed on three U.S. Paralympic Teams (Basketball ’84, Athletics ’88, ’92).
Ann is widely known and respected throughout the world as a leader in sport and human rights. She has led a number of national and international advocacy initiatives on sport with a focus on girls and women with disabilities. Through her leadership, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) established a policy on gender equity and several initiatives aimed at increasing participation by women in Paralympic sport and the movement. Within the United States, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 was landmark legislation requiring schools and colleges receiving federal money in any education program or activity to provide the same opportunities for girls as they provide for boys. According to WSF, Title IX has resulted in growth of girls participating in high school sports from 1 in 27 in 1972 to about 2 in 5 today. Title IX has not only made its impact felt in terms of athletic participation, but in educational opportunities for girls and women. According to several studies, the combination of the two has produced significant long-term educational, health and economic benefits for women.
BlazeSports America is proud to be a part of the advancements that have been made over the last forty years in creating new opportunities for women and girls to participate in sport in physical activity. We invite you to join us on the BlazeSports America Facebook page in thanking Ann for all her hard work to increase sport and physical activity opportunities for all individuals! Congratulations to all the honorees!