Supporting Children With Disabilities Get "Fit For The Future"

A brand new program may help increase the lives of children with disabilities-and help them better control their health.

Sixty-six percent of adults with disabilities aren't really satisfied with their lives; 78 percent are unemployed; and health concerns have been increased by them, including greater vulnerability to additional health dilemmas.

But, a fresh DVD will help enhance the future outlook for kiddies with disabilities. Named "Fit for the Future," it addresses two of the most important issues facing people with disabilities today: health and employment. The DVD premiered by Shriners Hospitals for Children and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

"Fit for the Future" is meant to become a special, revolutionary system that fills a void in available resources. The DVD contains three 20- to 30-minute, encouraging, kid-friendly exercise routines-stretching, strengthening and stamina-that can be achieved seated or standing. The exercise part of the DVD functions patients and therapists from the Tampa Shriners Hospital, as well as FBI personnel from Tampa, Fla., Washington, D.C., and Quantico, Va.

The program also contains informational areas on the Shriners fraternity, Shriners Hospitals for Children and the FBI.

The DVD has a 2nd, equally important concept of potential future work. Statistically, individuals with disabilities have the best unemployment rate (around 70 percent). Understanding that the FBI especially desires to retain people with disabilities could be a huge source of support for kids with disabilities.

While designed primarily for kids with orthopaedic problems, "Fit for the Future" is definitely an exercise program almost everyone can use. The exercise routines presented are common and fundamental enough to provide a kick off point for a workout regime.

There is a growing knowing of the importance of providing exercise opportunities for people with disabilities. "We think that a course offering children with disabilities, in addition to the strong presence of an Agent as both role and spouse model, might help encourage children with disabilities to exercise," mentioned Peter Armstrong, M.D., medical affairs director for Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Credit for the idea belongs to FBI Special Agent James Knights, who's also a Shriner. Knights, of Pittsburgh, Pa., desired to create a way to help kiddies with disabilities realize that should they worked hard and kept as strong and healthy as you possibly can, their future can add a career in the FBI.

To find out more on Shriners' network of 22 hospitals offering medical care and services to children with orthopaedic issues, burns off, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate at totally free, write to Shriners International Headquarters, 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607 or visit www.shrinershq.org. All services are provided at no charge to kids under 18, aside from economic need or relation to a url Shriner.