NCKU promotes inclusive sports with "Together We Move," participation surges

Exercise is beneficial for both physical and mental health, yet individuals with disabilities often face limited opportunities for physical activity, leading to higher health risks. In collaboration with the Tainan City Government's Sports Bureau, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) continues its "Together We Move" initiative, now in its third year, aiming to provide accessible sports programs for individuals with disabilities. Led by the NCKU Physical Education Office, the touring sports instructional team will visit five locations from April to October, including the Shanhua Day Care  Center and the Tainan City Yonghua Civil Sports Center, offering tailored fitness courses for individuals with disabilities. With positive feedback from the past two years and the easing of pandemic restrictions, participation is expected to reach 4,000 individuals, highlighting the many positive benefits of exercise.

Director Hsien-Che Huang from the NCKU Physical Education Office emphasized that "sports" should extend beyond school activities and integrate into everyday life. Through its University Social Responsibility (USR) initiative, NCKU actively supports community engagement, exemplified by the "Together We Move" project, which not only serves vulnerable populations but also demonstrates the university's commitment to societal welfare.
 
Assistant Professor Hung-Chun Huang, the project's lead organizer, emphasized the importance of exercise for individuals with disabilities, noting that even those with mobility issues or wheelchair users can engage in physical activity, such as seated yoga, to achieve relaxation and body stretching benefits. To enhance the quality of sports instruction, the touring team organized a consensus and capacity-building training camp on May 27th at Tainan First Senior High School's gymnasium, featuring lectures from experts in physical therapy to maximize the benefits of exercise.

Assistant Professor Hung-Chun Huang shared positive feedback from participants in the "Together We Move" program. Some individuals with intellectual disabilities, previously hesitant to leave their homes or interact with others, experienced a significant boost in confidence and stress resilience through participation. Parents of children with disabilities reported improvements in both their own and their children's mental well-being and parent-child relationships after attending interactive classes and sports activities together.
 
In 2023, the "Together We Move" touring sports instructional team from NCKU will conduct weekly one-hour sports sessions at five locations, including the Tainan City Yonghua Civil Sports Center, the FU & Co. in East District, Tai-Jiang Sports Club in Annan District, and the Shan-Hua Day Care Center, expecting to reach 4,000 participants. Additionally, small-scale sports programs will be offered at the Eden Foundation in Xinying District from May to July.

Assistant Professor Hung-Chun Huang noted that the “Together We Move”program attracted approximately 1,500 participants in its first year, decreased to 1,000 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the second year, and is expected to reach 4,000 participants this year with the easing of pandemic restrictions.