Mobility News

#HowIWalk Seeks to Rebrand Walking

Some use two legs, some use two wheels, make walking an inclusive term!

PHOTO COURTESY NATIONAL SEATING & MOBILITY; HOW I WALK

A Web site called #HowIWalk is asking people to rethink what they know about walking.

Noting that 50 percent of adults with disabilities report they get no aerobic physical activity, and that 20 percent of the population has a disability, the Web site seeks to promote walking “as an inclusive physical activity term that is individualized. We envision a future of community health inclusion, one in which health promotion activities are accessible to all.”

The campaign focuses on walking because it’s a simple activity linked to significant health benefits, and because it’s “a viable form of physical activity for Americans of all ages and abilities. There are various ways to talk, and now is the time to rebrand the word walking so that everybody is included in walking initiatives.”

#HowIWalk acknowledges a number of challenges to its walking goals, including streets that can be difficult to navigate for people who use wheelchairs or have limited mobility, as well as for people with reduced vision. People who live in neighborhoods that lack sidewalks report being less active than people who live in communities with sidewalks, the site said.

The Web site also encourages walkers to share their journeys on social media to motivate others. For more information, visit www.nchpad.org/howiwalk.