Feasibility of scaling-up a community-based exercise program for young people with disability.
Nora ShieldsClaire E WillisChristine ImmsGeorgia McKenzieBen van DorsselaerAndrea Maree BruderRachel A KennedyYeshna BhowonAlesha SouthbyLuke A PrendergastJennifer J WattsNicholas F TaylorPublished in: Disability and rehabilitation (2021)
Scaling-up FitSkills is feasible, but with caveats related to communication, scheduling, and efficiency of recruitment.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONKey elements valued by participants as part of the successful scale-up of a community-based exercise program (FitSkills) across a large metropolitan city included a peer-mentor, tailored exercise, and organisational support structure.FitSkills can be adapted to include young people with complex disability with additional supports including screening, risk analysis, and professional support for the peer-mentor.The benefits of FitSkills, including social connectedness for young people with a disability and normalisation of disability for mentors, outweigh the burdens of participation.Communication with program organisers and scheduling logistics between the young person, their family/carers and peer mentors are important factors to manage for the successful implementation of FitSkills.