Presidential
Proclamation on National Physical Fitness and Sports Month Recognizes HHS
Inclusive Program Model
May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. Led by the
President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition (PCSFN), it
encourages all Americans to be and stay active, and emphasizes the many
benefits that we get by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
In the following excerpt from an April 30 proclamation on this
May national health observance, the President recognized the I Can Do It! (ICDI)
program model. ICDI was recently transferred from the
PCSFN to ACL.The program helps schools offer an integrated program of
physical education, physical activity, and training in good nutritional
behaviors to students with disabilities in grades K-12. Although some
children may participate in the program on an individual basis, ICDI
prioritizes an inclusive, integrated approach in which children with and
without disabilities play and participate in physical education together.
"Unfortunately, despite the numerous benefits, youth
sports participation has been decreasing. In 2016, only 37 percent of youth
played team sports on a regular basis, down from 45 percent 11 years ago.
This decline is even more apparent among students from low-income families.
To address this issue, I have directed the President’s Council
on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition (the Council) to work with the White
House and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop a
national strategy to increase youth sports participation. Through this
strategy, we are increasing awareness of the benefits of participation in
sports and regular physical activity and of the importance of good
nutrition. We are also working to recruit people devoted to encouraging and
supporting youth participation in sports and regular physical activity
through coaching, mentoring, teaching, and offering athletic and
nutritional programs.
The strategy includes a focus on accessible, inclusive
physical activity for Americans of all abilities. Girls, youth with
disabilities, and those from economically distressed areas have lower rates
of regular physical activity and face significant barriers in their pursuit
of sports participation compared to their peers. Both the Council’s
Presidential Active Lifestyle Award and the HHS I Can Do It! (ICDI) program
model will support the need for increased access to inclusive program
models for American youth of all backgrounds and abilities. When children
of all abilities play, practice, and compete together, we can build a more
inclusive Nation."
#MoveInMay
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