The only thing more important than the first step is the next step, and the CDR’s new Inclusive Fitness Initiative is ready to help you take both. Over the next few months, CDR will be recruiting individuals to participate in our new fitness program—Custom Fit. Funded by the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC), we are looking for people with disabilities who want to work toward living a healthier lifestyle, but just need some guidance getting there.

If you’ve never picked up a weight or made it to the gym, or you could use some support getting back on track with your fitness goals, the Custom Fit program can help! With assistance from local fitness professionals, the purpose of Custom Fit is to help you feel confident and comfortable participating in community fitness programs. We will help you develop a fitness plan that is Custom Fit for you based on your goals and interests.

Joseph Slaski—a Quality Assurance representative for CDR and former member of Team USA’s Paralympic Sled Hockey team during the 1998 Paralympics in Nagano, Japan—knows all too well the benefits of doing what you can to live a healthy lifestyle. Today, Slaski stays active as a referee for local high school sports like boys and girls basketball.

“Adaptive fitness opportunities are essential not only for physical health but are equally important for mental and emotional health as well,” Slaski says. “Adaptive fitness opportunities also provide a good social outlet and as such provide an excellent opportunity to meet others with similar goals and interests.”

CDR’s Inclusive Fitness Advisory Board—of which Slaski is a member—is made up of representatives from multiple community health organizations, and will provide diverse perspectives on how to implement and maintain the Custom Fit program. With their enthusiastic assistance, we are looking forward to a great program launch after the New Year.

In addition to the Advisory Board, CDR is also coordinating the development of the Coalition for Inclusive Fitness. The Inclusive Fitness Coalition will be a group of organizations and agencies in Monroe County committed to spreading the word and promoting best practices related to inclusive fitness and wellness services. Many organizations are already working toward that goal; however, the Coalition will build a network of support for those organizations and a way to continue to increase opportunities for inclusive programming.

For more information, please contact Emma Woodward, Fitness Coordinator at 585-546-7510, or ewoodward@cdrnys.org.

Happy Holidays from CDR!