Rerc on recreation, sport, and exercise technologies for people with disabilities (RECTECH) - this center conducts a set of research and development projects that span across the socio-ecological…

Rerc on recreation, sport, and exercise technologies for people with disabilities (RECTECH) - this center conducts a set of research and development projects that span across the socio-ecological model to address a multilevel set of barriers to participation in healthful recreation, sport and exercise among adults and children with disabilities. Six areas of research and development include: (1) a low cost, portable adapted sports and recreation equipment development and evaluation; (2) a multi-modal and multi-channel telehealth intervention to promote adherence and improved health and function; (3) standards for inclusive playground surfaces, fitness centers and equipment; (4) a platform to offer physical education inclusion solutions, access to equipment, trainers & venues and modify attitudes; (5) a study of the barriers and facilitators that impact the participation of children with disabilities in sports and recreation; and (6) a centralized data repository to acquire and disseminate exercise, sport and recreation data sets to expedite research and practice. Training initiatives involve undergraduate and graduate level training in recreation, sport and exercise technologies targeting engineering, occupational therapy, and rehabilitation science students. Dissemination includes presentations at engineering and rehabilitation conferences, publications in high-impact peer-reviewed journals, press releases, websites, and faculty presentations. Anticipated outcomes include a set of hardware and software products that improve the health, function, and quality of life among people with physical disabilities. A secondary outcome is to ensure that dissemination of these products and tools reach an array of stakeholders, including people with disabilities, caregivers, rehabilitation and exercise science researchers, adapted PE teachers, adapted PE and sport trainers, and rehabilitation and exercise professionals, who can use them in their respective communities and professions.