Adaptive Fitness: Home Exercises & Local Programs

The California Department of Developmental Services ("DDS") is committed to providing comprehensive care for individuals with developmental disabilities. This includes prioritizing physical health and wellbeing. In particular, the DDS understands that to be truly healthy, individuals with developmental disabilities need access to physical exercise. Often, given an individual's disabilities, the exercises will need to be adapted to their specific needs. For this reason, DDS has resources available to give participants access to adaptive fitness. Home exercises and local programs are two of the primary modes of adaptive fitness that DDS participants can access.

What is Adaptive Fitness?

Generally, adaptive fitness refers to any modification of physical activities to match the special needs of individuals with disabilities. In essence, adaptive fitness is an effort to allow everyone to tap into the benefits of physical exercise and activity—regardless of physical, cognitive, or developmental disability. By doing so, adaptive fitness empowers all people to benefit from a fit and healthy lifestyle.

How Can DDS Help Me Access Adaptive Fitness?

DDS regional care centers can match you or your loved one with a variety of resources and tools related to adaptive fitness. To access these resources, let your care coordinator know you are interested in adaptive fitness. From there, be sure to add adaptive fitness as a component to your Individual Program Plan ("IPP").

In general, DDS regional centers can help individuals access adaptive fitness programs tailored to their physical abilities, mobility needs, and personal goals.

One major area of support is home-based adaptive fitness. Regional centers can connect individuals with physical or occupational therapists who design customized exercise routines that can be safely performed at home. These may include stretching, balance training, strength exercises, and adaptive yoga. Therapists may also recommend accessible fitness equipment, such as resistance bands, adaptive bikes, or seated exercise tools. The goal is to encourage movement, flexibility, endurance, strength, and coordination without needing to leave home.

Additionally, DDS also supports participation in community-based adaptive fitness programs. Many regional centers partner with local organizations to provide inclusive classes and recreational activities.

By promoting adaptive fitness, California DDS helps people with developmental disabilities stay active, improve physical health, and build social connections. In this way, DDS accomplishes the goal of providing care to people in the homes and communities where they already live. All in all, adaptive fitness—home exercises and local programs—can help empower all individuals to feel their best by being physically active.