Building a Foundation for a Healthy Adulthood: Barriers, Facilitators, and Potential Solutions for Increasing Physical Activity of Children with Disabilities - The need for solutions to improve opportunities for physical activity (PA) for children with disabilities is pressing given the poor health and wellbeing outcomes of adults with disabilities. Features of the environment that support PA have not been fully explored. The National Center on Health, Physical Activity & Disability (NCHPAD) has developed a hospital to community infrastructure for supporting PA of adults with disability- NCHPAD Connect. More information is needed from children, families, and providers prior to adapting the program for children. This mixed methods project will use quantitative data from a national survey and qualitative data from focus groups to explore solutions to improve opportunities for PA for children with disabilities. The first aim of the study is to conduct a cross-sectional analysis of the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) to identify environmental and personal factors associated with PA of children with special health care needs (CSHCN). Through a cross-sectional analysis of the NSCH, we will describe the adherence to the recommended guidelines for PA for CSHCN and compare CSHCN with functional limitations to those without. We will also examine neighborhood, school, and medical supports associated with higher PA. In aim 2, using qualitative methods with families of children with disabilities, children with disabilities, school and hospital therapists, social workers, physicians, and adaptive sports providers, we will explore barriers and facilitators of PA and perceptions of adapting NCHPAD Connect for children. Completing these aims will result in detailed information to inform an implementation project to build capacity within hospitals, schools, communities and NCHPAD to support PA opportunities for children with disabilities The proposed implementation project would harness the hospitals and communities affiliated with the Cerebral Palsy Research Network and the expertise of NCHPAD.
