We shared in our last that nearly 200 million people living with intellectual disabilities (ID) are approximately 2-4 times less likely than the general population to comply with the recommended physical activity guidelines. People with ID are motivated to exercise but lack the support they need to do so consistently. You can get help from trained fitness professionals by enrolling in the Special Olympics Inclusion Fitness Training on the ACE Platform and using these tips and strategies.
Tips and Strategies for People with Intellectual Disabilities
It is essential to understand the needs and interests of people with ID in order to create exercise programs that are suitable for them. Before you start an exercise program, ask them about their past gym experiences. It is simple to understand and will help you gain insight into your client’s daily activities and fitness habits. It can be used repeatedly to evaluate progress.
Your main goal as a fitness professional is to empower people with ID. People with ID love to be able to do their own thing. Teach them how to use the equipment, exercise, and create a routine. You should also teach them how to use the gym, such as where their belongings are, what they can wear, how to check in and out, and how to properly clean equipment.
Next, you will need to assess the client’s fitness levels based on their specific needs. People with ID often have lower cardiovascular and muscle fitness. Therefore, it is essential to determine their fitness and provide challenging and safe exercises. Make sure to familiarize your client with the process, give them extra time and let them practice before you take standard measurements. Special Olympics offers a Fitness Assessment manual and videos that will help you conduct the appropriate fitness tests for people with ID.
When you are assessing your needs and creating your training plan, make sure that the exercises are appropriate for your age. To show respect and encourage self-efficacy, treat adults with intellectual disabilities like adults. Avoid using childlike language and jargon (e.g., buddy, kid)
Next, you should start small. For someone with ID, it can be difficult to remember complex movements or steps. This is especially true for clients who have never been to a gym before. You might try incorporating less equipment into the first session and showing a few exercises before letting a client with ID attempt it for the first. This will increase confidence and help you complete these new exercises with success. Limit the number of cues that are shared at once, especially when giving feedback on forms. You could point out a problem area in the state (e.g., “chest forward”) and then allow the client to correct it multiple times. You might also consider visual aids such as OMNI HTMLPE scale, pictures, or trackers. Then, show the client the correct form and ask them to do the exercise.
Find ways to encourage physical activity beyond sessions. Many ID holders may not have the means to access specialized equipment or transportation to go to the gym after their sessions. It doesn’t mean that they can’t be active at home. As a visual reminder, athletes can bring home handouts and trackers. Find out about their community and home. Is there a nearby park or walking path where clients can exercise in between sessions? To foster social support, you might consider checking in with your client by text message or phone call during sessions.
Special Olympics offers a range of resources that support physical activity inside and outside of training sessions. This includes FIT 5, which is a free, downloadable resource series that contains videos, guides, as well as exercise cards. These videos provide information about how to eat five fruits and vegetables daily, drink five bottles of water per day, and engage in at least 30 minutes of exercise each week. These videos and exercise cards include activities that clients can do at home. To reinforce the healthy habits that clients have learned at the gym, clients can use the tracker to read the Fit5 guide.
School of Strength is an additional resource for physical activity and health that clients can use outside of session time. Special Olympics athletes and WWE wrestlers collaborated to create a range of strength, flexibility, endurance, balance, and endurance exercises that clients can use between sessions. Special Olympics Dynamic Stretches Guide or videos may be of interest to fitness professionals. These 13 dynamic stretchings featured athletes from Special Olympics. They can be used in warm-ups or outside.
Your fitness program can be used to encourage the inclusion of persons with ID. Start by taking the ACE Inclusive Fitness course for free. You can search for your local Special Olympics Program and get in touch to get involved. You can support your local team’s strength & conditioning, lead a Special Olympics fitness program, or teach an inclusive fitness class where people with and without ID are able to participate together in exercise. You can also check out ACE’s Instagram for information about fitness assessments that you can use when working with people with ID.