A parent watching their child sit out of gym class, skip every sports invitation, or avoid physical activity altogether often senses something is off, but may not realize how common that experience is. The data, when you see it, tends to feel familiar. More than one in four people with disabilities report no regular physical activity during a typical week. For people without disabilities, that figure is closer to one in eight. That's not a gap in motivation or ability. It's a gap in access, design, and support. It shows up early. Why the Gap Exists. Access is the most visible piece, but rarely the only one. Most mainstream gyms and recreation programs aren't designed with sensory sensitivities, mobility differences, or communication needs in mind. That's not a family failing to find the right fit. It reflects a design gap that has existed for a long time and is only slowly beginning to change. Social factors matter too. For a child with autism or ADHD, a typical group fitness class or team sport involves a lot of unpredictability: noise, transitions, unspoken social rules, and the pressure of keeping up with peers. Many children stop trying after one or two difficult experiences, and families stop suggesting it. Getting to specialized adaptive programs adds another layer. When they exist at all, they often require consistent transportation and scheduling flexibility that isn't available to every family. The motivation may be there; the logistics frequently aren't. None of this reflects what a child is...

Kids with disabilities are twice as likely to be physically inactive. Here's why that gap exists and what families can do about it.

The Activity Gap: Why Kids with Disabilities Exercise Far Less, and What Families Can Do

When your child has special needs, getting them moving regularly can feel like a project with no clear roadmap. You know exercise is supposed to help. You've probably read about the benefits. But what works one week falls apart the next, and routines that seemed promising can unravel before they've ever really taken hold. That experience is incredibly common, and it's usually not the parent's commitment that's the problem. It's the starting expectations. Think Smaller Than Feels Useful. One of the most helpful shifts is recalibrating how long a session actually needs to be. For most children with sensory sensitivities, attention differences, or communication challenges, a 20- or 30-minute structured workout is too long and too formal to be sustainable, especially at the start. Five minutes. Five minutes of movement that your child actually enjoys and will actually do. That's the goal. Not impressive, just real. A five-minute dance break that happens three times a week builds a habit. A 30-minute session that happens twice and gets abandoned builds nothing. Once consistency is there, the length can grow naturally. But consistency has to come first. Match the Movement to the Child. Not every child responds to the same activities, and trying to fit a child into something that doesn't suit them creates resistance that's hard to work through. Before picking what to try, think about your child's sensory profile. Children who seek sensory input often respond well to movement that provides strong physical feedback: trampolining, swimming, rough-and-tumble play, carrying groceries,...

Building movement habits with a child who has special needs is possible. Here's a realistic approach that actually holds together.

How to Build an Exercise Routine for a Child with Special Needs (Without Burning Out)

The Benefits of Adaptive Yoga for Individuals with Special Needs. Adaptive yoga is a great way for individuals with special needs to stay active and healthy. Yoga can help improve flexibility, strength, balance, and coordination. It can also reduce stress and anxiety, and promote relaxation and well-being. Adaptive yoga classes are taught by certified instructors who have experience working with people with disabilities. They modify traditional yoga poses and use props like chairs, blankets, and straps to make the practice accessible to everyone. The classes are typically smaller in size to allow for more individualized attention. Some of the benefits of adaptive yoga include:  Improved physical fitness and mobility Better posture and alignment Increased body awareness Enhanced concentration and focus Greater self-confidence and self-esteem  Adaptive yoga is suitable for people of all ages and abilities. It can be especially helpful for those with conditions like autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and multiple sclerosis. Even if you've never tried yoga before, an adaptive class is a great place to start. Getting Started with Adaptive Yoga. If you're interested in trying adaptive yoga, the first step is to find a qualified instructor in your area. Look for someone who has completed specialized training in teaching yoga to people with disabilities. You can search online directories like Yoga Alliance or ask for recommendations from local disability organizations. Before your first class, talk to the instructor about your individual needs and any medical conditions or limitations you have. They can suggest modifications...

Adaptive yoga empowers special needs individuals, enhancing physicality, focus, confidence, and community through tailored poses and props.

Empowering Individuals with Special Needs Through Adaptive Yoga

Imagine a calm room with zen music streaming from the speakers, and an instructor directs the people in the room to place their hands on the floor and their buttocks in the air. You might recognize the pose as the downward dog, but it might take a moment to realize it’s not your typical adult yoga class. Yoga instruction for children and adults with disabilities is increasingly in popularity. Special needs experts agree that yoga activities make a positive impact on individuals with special needs. These activities improve mobility, strength, and digestion for individuals with disabilities like cerebral palsy. The success of yoga programs is catching the attention of parents, caregivers, and medical professionals. Parents and caregivers of individuals with special needs understand the value of a child with cerebral palsy being able to sit up on his own. The basic fundamentals of an activity like yoga require certain aspects, such as control of breathing and stamina. For individuals with cerebral palsy, specialized yoga instructors will cradle the individual and move their arms and legs to help them relax. The instructors will also ask individuals to touch their feel to the floor or lift their heads for a few seconds. While these movements might seem trivial to the average person, they are major obstacles and successes for individuals with a disability. These activities are not only for individuals with cerebal palsy, but also they are used for those with disabilities such as Down syndrome, autism, ADHD, or learning disabilities. Yoga...

Yoga for individuals with disabilities like cerebral palsy is gaining popularity, improving mobility, strength, and focus.

Yoga for People with Disabilities

Jerry is a tall, lanky 19-year-old with autism and gastro-intestinal issues. He began coming to YogAbility, a nonprofit organization, 10 years ago. He used to have frequent tantrums, screaming fits, and wore a protective helmet. Since he began yoga therapy, Jerry has grown tremendously in the way he communicates with people. He is more grounded. He even does poses on his own at home. In a typical session, when he arrives Jerry is placed on his back for passive stretches. Jerry’s caregiver, Wendy, and I talk, touch, pull and push him, mainly encouraging him with praise and soft music playing. Whenever he jumps up, that action is respected and is used to create another pose. It could then be to sit on a chair and lean forward, with Jerry stretching out his legs and me lifting them. I follow his lead, rotating each knee on the chair and then extending him forward and down slowly to open the hips, groin and the psoas. Jerry now lies flat on his stomach. I slowly lift one leg, then the other, followed by both at the same time. The locust pose for strengthening his back and his digestive system creates a slight beneficial pressure on the lower abdomen. For balancing/countering this, Jerry is rolled onto his back, hips lifted up and supported by a bolster under them. These inversions are excellent for him, relieving pressure, reversing circulation, and they are fun for him, too. I then pull Jerry up into the half-shoulder stand and...

Yoga therapy at YogAbility has greatly improved communication and reduced tantrums for Jerry, a 19-year-old with autism.

YogAbility for People with Disabilities

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Special Needs
Articles

The Activity Gap: Why Kids with Disabilities Exercise Far Less, and What Families Can Do

How to Build an Exercise Routine for a Child with Special Needs (Without Burning Out)

Empowering Individuals with Special Needs Through Adaptive Yoga

Yoga for People with Disabilities

YogAbility for People with Disabilities

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs Articles

The Activity Gap: Why Kids with Disabilities Exercise Far Less, and What Families Can Do

How to Build an Exercise Routine for a Child with Special Needs (Without Burning Out)

Empowering Individuals with Special Needs Through Adaptive Yoga

Yoga for People with Disabilities

YogAbility for People with Disabilities

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs
Articles