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Special Fitness Project – History
THE SFP DVD THAT ROSSMOOR ROTARY IS DISTRIBUTING is the third in a series of workouts that were first produced on video-tapes. A team of fitness experts working cooperatively with people who had disabilities participated in the project. Input and feedback from exercisers with disabilities helped make the workouts useful, enjoyable and safe.
TECHNOLOGY
Special Fitness Workouts were originally distributed nationwide on video tape. They were well received but the technology of the times did not support their use. Problems included: users with questions were limited to using snail-mail. Videotapes were easily damaged by children who lacked good coordination. There was no easy way to skip between the three workouts on the same tape. The kind of communication that users needed to inspire them to maintain their exercise program was too slow.
Current technology supports their use. DVDs have replaced the video tapes which proved to be inadequate for this mission. Now that DVD players are almost universally available it is time to get these DVDs out to everyone who can benefit from them.
Rotarians can use the internet and social media to tell people about SFP workouts. If users have questions they can find answers on our website or use e-mail and social media to get help from our professional advisory team. (We will build that team during the next year. Interested Rotarians are welcome to participate. )
THE DESIGN PROCESS
- a workout was designed by a team of aerobic instructors, adapted physical education coaches, special education teachers, kinisthesiologist and others.
- It was videotaped.
- We took the video to students and adults with disabilities to use at their schools, homes, sheltered workshops, etc.
- After they got acquainted with it we filmed them doing the workout,
- The design team watched them exercise, evaluated what aspects worked for them and what moves and other aspects needed to be improved.
- The experts then redesigned and improved the workout. This dynamic interaction, cooperation and communication between fitness experts and people with disabilities produced workouts that are safe, enjoyable and responsive to their needs.
The process was repeated many times over three years. The DVD that Rossmoor Rotary is making available for Rotarians to distribute is the last in the series.
It was designed and field-tested in the Washington, DC area with contributions by people from Maryland to California.
Organizations that participated in design and field-testing included:
- American University
- Association for Retarded Citizens
- Catholic University Washington, D.C.
- Centers for the Handicapped, Inc.
- Inwood House
- Jewish Foundation for Group Homes
- Joseph P. Kennedy Institute
- Maryland Society for Autistic Adults and Children
- Montgomery County Schools, MD
- Montgomery Vocational and Training Center
- Northern Virginia Vocational Center
- President’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports
- Prince George’s County Schools
- Santa Barbara Council of the Association for Retarded Citizens
- Special Olympics
- University of Maryland
- YMCA of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.
- YMCA of Bethesda, MD
SPECIAL FITNESS produced one of the world’s first fitness programs for people who have developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injury and dementia.
It began as a not-for-profit corporation that was created by Anita King and other advocates for people with disabilities. Anita’s career had included advocacy for people with disabilities. She used her Community Organization skills to mobilize the Special Fitness team. Recently she contributed the workouts to Rossmoor Rotary.
