Physical Activity and Children and Youth With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) are less active, on average, than are peers without disabilities. Physical activity is an important component of human health, growth, and development; thus, it is critical to promote this behavior for all children and youth, particularly those with ID/DD.

Comparatively little research has been done on the subject of physical activity in children and youth with ID/DD. Studies on physical activity and children are largely based on groups of children [Page 1243]without disabilities, and information on children and youth with ID/DD is typically diagnosis specific, primarily focused on those with intellectual disabilities or cerebral palsy. Additional research is scattered across a wide range of physical disabilities (e.g., spina bifida, juvenile idiopathic arthritis), communication or sensory conditions (e.g., ...