White House Summit and Commit to Inclusion Campaign Launch

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 2014 PRNewswire-USNewswire — The National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability, the American Association on Health and Disability, and the Center on Disability at the Public Health Institute are joining the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN) today to launch the national Commit to Inclusion campaign. The goal of the campaign is to encourage individuals, organizations and key stakeholders to help build healthy, inclusive communities. The Commit to Inclusion campaign kicks off in conjunction with the “White House Summit and Research Forum on Improved Health and Fitness for Americans with Disabilities,” co-sponsored by PCFSN and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health.

The worldwide phenomenon, Zumba^®, has committed to inclusion as a Primary Supporter. To announce this commitment, Alberto Perlman, CEO of Zumba^®, stated:  “With 200,000 locations in 186 countries, Zumba^® is available to everybody and every body. The underlying spirit of Zumba^® is one driven by support and inclusion of all, which is reflected in our continued efforts to include and support those with disabilities.  We would like to thank JoAnne Fluke for bringing us this opportunity and for continuing to be an incredible ambassador for our program and what we stand for.”

Zumba® Instructor, JoAnne Fluke, pictured right leading a Zumba® (Inclusive) Master Class at Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham, Alabama.

The Summit convenes national disability stakeholders from K–12 schools, universities, and community-based organizations to discuss disability inclusion through physical activity, nutrition, and obesity programs and policies. Summit participants will also learn about the Guidelines for Disability Inclusion and share best practices for implementing PCFSN’s I Can Do It, You Can Do It! (ICDI) Program for youth and adults with disabilities.

The Summit continues Tuesday, when participants of the Research Forum examine knowledge gaps and research opportunities in diet, exercise, motivation, and outcomes that will improve the health and life quality of all children with disabilities. The forum will feature panel presentations with Q&A from experts, researchers, and scientists across the fields of disability, health, physical activity,and nutrition.

Get live updates on Twitter by following @FitnessGov and tracking #InclusionMeans. For more information about Commit to Inclusion, visit www.CommitToInclusion.org

Press Release via: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/white-house-summit-and-commit-to-inclusion-campaign-launch-278241331.html.

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Images from the White House Summit and Commit to Inclusion launch: