National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability

12/17/2025

Since we’re in the holiday season, we thought we’d ask some of our team some holiday questions!

12/12/2025

This week, the NCHPAD team took part in the third annual UAB SHP Research Collaborative Day, highlighting the amazing work being done not only by our team but also in other areas of disability research, community outreach, and more. Special thanks to Andrew Butler, Ph.D., Dean of the UAB School of Health Professions, and Dante Bacani for joining as guest speakers at the event. We hope to continue building momentum and making a greater positive impact in 2026!

12/11/2025

Hosting a holiday party? Make sure you check out our article with tips to make your party both fun, accessible and adaptive for all who attend the event. It covers everything from pre-party invitations to activities and more. Visit the article here:

https://www.nchpad.org/resources/hosting-an-accessible-adaptive-holiday-party/

Don’t forget to make your parties accessible for everyone to participate comfortably! Check out these tips from our team!

12/08/2025

The holidays, often celebrated as a time of joy and connection, can sometimes heighten feelings of loneliness and isolation for many people, particularly those with disabilities. Our article from our Healthy Holidays series provides ways for you to stay connected with others and reduce social isolation:

https://www.nchpad.org/resources/combating-social-isolation-for-people-with-disabilities/

12/05/2025

Episode 19 of our podcast is now available! In this episode, part of our Healthy Holidays series, we talk about staying active and exploring adaptive exercises during the holiday season with NCHPAD Exercise Physiologist John Reams! The episode is available in the link below (along with a transcript) and on all major streaming platforms.

https://www.nchpad.org/resources/podcast-episode-19-rethinking-exercise-during-the-holidays-with-john-reams/

In this episode, part of our Healthy Holidays series, we talk about staying active and exploring adaptive exercises during the holiday season with NCHPAD Exercise Physiologist John Reams.

12/02/2025

The holiday season is upon us. It's never too early to get started on your new year's health goals. Try our 7-day wellness challenge full of NCHPAD resources in exercise, mindfulness, nutrition and more!

https://www.nchpad.org/resources/moving-forward-a-7-day-wellness-challenge-for-all-abilities/

Implementing major changes into your daily routine to achieve wellness goals can feel overwhelming and complicated. We created this 7-day wellness challenge to help you discover your path to improved…

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving! We wish you a safe and joyful holiday from everyone at NCHPAD.

11/26/2025

With the busy holiday season, maintaining your health and wellness can be tricky. NCHPAD's Healthy Holidays series offers a collection of accessible articles, videos, and podcasts designed to help! Inside, you’ll find practical tips, adaptive exercises, nutrition advice, and guided meditations tailored to manage the demands of the season. Check it out here: https://www.nchpad.org/news-updates/healthy-holidays-with-nchpad/

The Healthy Holidays series is a collection of articles, videos, and podcasts from NCHPAD designed to provide accessible health resources. The holiday season often presents unique challenges like…

11/21/2025

Physical education teachers: Do you want your class to be as accessible and adaptive as possible for all students? Do you need professional development hours? Fill out the Lieberman/Brian Inclusion Rating Scale for Physical Education (LIRSPE) and get free resources to support your teaching. You will also receive a certificate of completion for your continuing education credits upon completing the scale.

Learn more about this opportunity here:

  PE Inclusion Solutions Online Solutions for PE and Sports for All About PE Inclusion Solutions Inclusion of children with disabilities in physical education (PE) activities is critical for reducing social isolation, enhancing academic performance, and meeting the recommended physical education gu...

11/18/2025

Looking to improve your wheelchair skills from the comfort of your home? The University of Pittsburgh is searching for adults (18+) with a non-progressive spinal cord injury who use a manual wheelchair at least 50% of the time to participate in a six-week research study to determine the effectiveness of virtual coaching from a peer to improve manual wheelchair skills. Compensation is provided for participants. Learn more here:

Qualtrics sophisticated online survey software solutions make creating online surveys easy. Learn more about Research Suite and get a free account today.

11/14/2025

Episode 18 of our podcast is now available! In this episode, part of our Healthy Holidays series (coming soon), we discuss healthy nutrition habits during the holiday season with Emily McAllister, NCHPAD Registered Dietitian! The episode is available in the link below (along with a transcript) and on all major streaming platforms.

https://www.nchpad.org/resources/podcast-episode-18-healthy-holiday-nutrition-with-emily-mcallister/

In this episode, part of our Healthy Holidays series, we discuss healthy nutrition habits during the holiday season with NCHPAD’s Emily McAllister!

11/10/2025

Our final video in our Manual Mobility Made Easy series covers selecting the right cushions for your manual wheelchair. The individuals in the video share their personal experiences with cushions, pressure mapping, and seating options that promote comfort, posture, and skin health. Learn more in the link:

https://www.nchpad.org/resources/how-to-pick-the-right-wheelchair-cushion-to-prevent-pressure-sores/

In this video, wheelchair users share their experiences with cushions, pressure mapping, and seating options that promote comfort, posture, and skin health.