IMPACT

IMPACT

Individualized Movement and Physical Activity for Children Today

A motor skills fitness program for children with disabilities

IMPACT is a physical activity program for children, youth and young adults with disabilities.

More than 60 children aged 6 months to 21 years, divided by age group, are engaged in physical activities - swimming, dancing, throwing balls, playing games, testing their skills on the climbing wall, balancing on a beam.

Updated March 22, 2024

Greetings IMPACT families,

This term we will be including up to 60 participants who are 2 to 21 years old.

See Spring 2024 IMPACT Programming details.

In health,
The Adapted Physical Activity Team

OSU continues to collaborate with local and state public health experts to provide response, prevention, services and information to the OSU community. You can stay up-to-date with OSU’s status and planning on the university’s COVID-19 Safety & Success website. 

Participant Application
Assistants Application
Support the program

"The love and support our son received through IMPACT changed his life.

Because of the skills and confidence he learned, he participated on the high school swim team for three years and the track team for two years, and he attends a yearly basketball camp.IMPACT helped him make friends and feel good about himself.

IMPACT is more than skill building — it is friendship, self-confidence, and self-advocacy building as well."

– Kelli Steele

Each child receives individual attention, support, and encouragement from a specially trained OSU undergraduate assistants or graduate student. The focus is on developing skills to help the children with daily life in their classrooms, on playgrounds, and at home.

"IMPACT is a unique program in that it offers physical activity opportunities for individuals with disabilities while at the same time it provides essential experiences for students at OSU to learn about working with special populations. It's amazing to watch the connections that develop between the OSU students and the IMPACT participants. They learn from each other, growing not only in the physical activity arena but in character and personal development as well."
– Dr. Jen Beamer, Program Faculty

The children have a wide variety of abilities and come to IMPACT through referrals from teachers, physicians, therapists and families who have experienced the program. Individualized physical activity programs are developed for each child based on initial screening, ongoing motor assessment and consultation with parents, teachers, and therapists.

IMPACT takes place on Friday evenings (5:30 - 7 p.m.) during the academic year, and Friday mornings (9:30 - 11 a.m.) during the summer months. Enrollment fee is $50 per term (approximately 2 months); scholarships are available.

The program is held in the Women's Building on the Oregon State University campus. Campus map of ADA parking.

Parents and families may stay to observe their children during IMPACT or take the opportunity for a respite.

They may also choose to attend educational sessions with guest speakers presenting on the challenges and joys of parenting a child with special needs.

IMPACT for Life

IMPACT for Life is a transitioning service program offshoot from IMPACT and integrates adults with disabilities into community physical activity opportunities including local gyms, swim clubs, and indoor rock climbing

The program has received support from various sources - United Way of Benton County, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, US Department of Education, and OSU's College of Public Health and Human Sciences.

Although IMPACT is usually at capacity, a waiting list is maintained. Those interested in enrolling their child in IMPACT will be asked to submit an application. A nominal fee of $50.00 is charged for participation and a sliding scale is available.

IMPACT, established in 1982, is directed by faculty members in the School of Exercise, Sport, and Health Sciences along with doctoral students in Adapted Physical Activity, a nationally known option within the kinesiology program.

The program lures top graduate students from around the world based on a reputation for research and active outreach programs like IMPACT.

Apply

Participants

Assistants

Assistants need to fill out two forms

Return both assistant application and KIN 406 form to [email protected]

You do not need to send these forms to your advisor or the scheduler for signatures.

Articles on IMPACT

IMPACT Newsletter

Resource Guide

Student Mandy Sargeant has developed a Resource guide to raising a child with a disability in the Mid-Willamette Valley (pdf).

Support the IMPACT program

IMPACT Fund

Contribute to the IMPACT program. You can make a gift directly on the OSU Foundation's website.

These funds are used for many reasons, including scholarships for IMPACT participants, equipment and other essential program needs.

Support students connected with IMPACT

IMPACT Leadership Endowed Fund

Support students connected with IMPACT and the adapted physical education graduate program by giving to the IMPACT Leadership Endowed Fund created by Jeff and Debbie McCubbin and John and Linda Dunn. The college and the IMPACT program are truly grateful for their thoughtful gift and desire to inspire others to join them in growing this fund.

If you would like to contribute to the IMPACT Leadership Endowed Fund, you can make a gift directly on the OSU Foundation's website, or for more information, please contact Jessica Merkner at the Oregon State University Foundation.

Contact

IMPACT

Individualized Movement and Physical Activity for Children Today
123 Women's Building
Corvallis, OR 97331-6802
541-737-2176
541-737-6613 (fax)

Program Directors

Faculty

Additional information

  • IMPACT is partially funded by donations designated to United Way.
  • Oregon State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Logo of the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs

This project is supported by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of the U.S. Department of Education.