Healthy + Happy #20: National Special Education Day
December 2 (Friday) is National Special Education Day, commemorating the signing of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) into law in 1975. The law “guaranteed access to a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment to every child with a disability.” In the 2020-21 school year, 7.2 million public school students (15 percent) received special education services under IDEA.
Physical activity and movement remain crucial for all kids' health and wellness, but for children with disabilities, opportunities are limited. While we’ve seen progress since 1975, there’s still much work to be done.
An active lifestyle helps all kids thrive.
Kids with special needs are about twice as likely as other children to be overweight or obese, creating serious implications for their future health.
Research has proven that physical education can not only improve physical health, but also enhance kids’ academic performance and cognitive function. For kids with special needs, it teaches focus, goal-setting, collaboration and the ability to overcome obstacles.
PE also helps break down barriers between kids and combat ableism (discrimination against people with disabilities), increasing the prospect of a more accepting and inclusive society.
Inclusion activities, ideas and resources.
Adaptive Sports. Most sports and activities can be adapted (using adaptive equipment from organizations like this and this) to give children with disabilities the opportunity to foster a lifetime love of movement.
Unified teams and classes. Kids of all abilities are part of the same team or PE classes — these have become very popular both inside and outside of school.
Words. Want to encourage inclusivity and combat ableism? The words we use are an opportunity to show support for a disability positive world.
Get involved. There are many organizations dedicated to inclusive sport and many resources available, like this inclusivity playbook for sport and Fit 5 program.
Watch. Check out the short film, High Road, by our friends at Outride to see a youth paracyclist in action.
In the News
School food round-up.
Students' interest in school meals is growing. What’s working? Serving 1) good food and 2) free food.
In fact, 37 percent of kids say they would eat more school lunch if plant-based meals were offered.
According to the Minnesota Attorney General, providing alternative meals to kids with lunch debt is illegal and a form of lunch shaming. The call for universal meals continues.
Stop Subsidizing Childhood Obesity Act of 2022.
The bill: If passed, the Stop Subsidizing Childhood Obesity Act of 2022 would end a federal tax subsidy that allows companies to deduct marketing expenses for goods with low nutritional value.
The context: Food and beverage companies spend millions on marketing to kids — and disproportionately target children of color, widening inequities in diet-related diseases.
The potential: According to an NIH-funded study, eliminating this tax subsidy would reduce childhood obesity rates by 5-7 percent and save about $350 million in healthcare costs over the next 10 years.
Events, Happenings and Opportunities
The Chef Ann Foundation is hiring for a variety of roles. See what’s available.
The next Outride Fund application cycle opens on January 6, 2023.
Have other national events or grant opportunities you'd like us to highlight? Let us know.
We hope you enjoyed Healthy + Happy. As always, please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or thoughts.