Adapted Physical Activity in the United States: Considerations for the (Near) Future

Abstract

It is well known that IDEA (the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act) is overdue for reauthorization and, borrowing from Block and colleagues, it is important to consider what evidence we have to support adapted physical activity as a field in the United States beyond this federal mandate. We believe that these questions have gained further importance in the current geopolitical climate in the United States. With that, we use this editorial to reflect on the evidence and direction of our field, with the hope of sparking dialogue and encouraging others to think about the future of adapted physical activity. In this editorial, we discuss the importance of adapted physical activity as it relates to health and physical activity and school-based physical education, as well as philosophical/moral arguments for the field. We conclude the editorial by inviting others to join the conversation about other unique aspects of importance to the field of adapted physical activity in the United States.