I Can Do It, You Can Do It: A Report of a Nationwide Mentoring Program of Physical Activity and Nutrition for Persons with Disabilities

The purpose of this presentation is to describe and encourage conference participants to implement the “I Can Do It, You Can Do It” program which addresses physical activity and nutrition behaviors of children and adolescents with disabilities across nine nationals sites in the U.S. The I Can Do It, You Can Do It program is being evaluated at university sites (Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wisconsin, New York, North Carolina, California, and Virginia), in special recreation centers in Utah, and in the third largest public school system in the U.S. (Miami-Dade Schools). This intervention meets a critical and emerging need as children and young adults with disabilities are at increased rates for development of secondary conditions including overweight and obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancers due to sedentary lifestyles. The I Can Do It program utilizes mentors who are healthy adults who monitor, track, and lead programs of physical activity and nutrition education of children with disabilities. Typically, programs extend for eight-week programs in which physical activity and nutrition education programs are measured prior to and following participation. Activities take place in community-based recreation centers and the programs are client-centered and individualized. The I Can Do It, You Can Do It program includes an evaluation model to determine the efficacy of the mentoring community-based model. Preliminary results of the first two years of the program suggest that youth with disabilities significantly decrease BMI, improve healthy eating behaviors, and recommend the program to their peers and friends.