I Can Do IT! A Strategic Physical Activity Program for K-12 Students with Disabilities
Jayne Greenberg
The I Can Do IT! (ICDI) program is a research-based initiative designed to provide access, equity, and opportunities for K-12 students with disabilities to be physically active 60 or more minutes each day. Operating across multiple school settings — including physical education classes, recess, afterschool programs, and extracurricular activities — ICDI meets students where they are and ensures that disability is not a barrier to an active, healthy life.
As a member of the original 2004 ICDI development team, I have had the privilege of witnessing this program grow and transform lives over the course of more than two decades. During my 22 years as District Director of Physical Education and Health Literacy for Miami-Dade County Public Schools, I led the implementation of ICDI throughout the district for 13 years. The impact I observed firsthand — on students, teachers, and entire school communities — is why I remain a passionate advocate for this program today.
Program Outcomes
The outcomes of ICDI extend well beyond physical fitness. Over the years, students participating in the program have forged lasting friendships with their peers and mentors. K-12 principals across Miami-Dade County reported meaningful, positive shifts in school climate — a direct result of the relationships and sense of community that ICDI helped cultivate. Students also experienced reductions in feelings of isolation and depression, two challenges that disproportionately affect young people with disabilities.
In our final year of district-wide implementation, ICDI participants earned nearly 1,700 PALA+ awards — a testament to the sustained engagement and commitment students demonstrated through the program. These numbers represent real children who discovered that physical activity is not only possible for them, but joyful and rewarding.
The Three Core Tenets of I Can Do IT!
ICDI is built on three foundational pillars that work together to support student success: Mentoring, Goal Setting, and Recognition.
Mentoring
At the heart of ICDI is the mentoring relationship between school personnel and students with disabilities. Mentors — which may include PE teachers, classroom teachers, paraprofessionals, coaches, and other school staff — guide students through physical education, physical activity, sports participation, and healthy eating habits. These relationships provide the encouragement, accountability, and personalized support that enable students to set ambitious goals and follow through on them.
Goal Setting
Students work collaboratively with their school personnel mentors to establish physical activity goals tailored to their individual abilities and interests. Goals can be set on a weekly basis, across a grading period, or for an entire semester. This flexible framework ensures that every student — regardless of the nature or severity of their disability — can participate meaningfully and experience the sense of accomplishment that comes from achieving a self-directed goal.
Recognition
Recognition is a powerful motivator, and ICDI takes it seriously. Students who are physically active five days per week for eight consecutive weeks earn a PALA+ (President's Active Lifestyle Award) certificate. This formal acknowledgment of their dedication celebrates their achievement in a tangible way and encourages continued participation. The recognition component reinforces the message that every student's effort matters and that their accomplishments deserve to be celebrated.
ICDI@HOME: Adapting for Remote Learning
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic posed unique challenges for students with disabilities, many of whom rely on structured school-based programming for social connection and physical activity. In response, ICDI launched ICDI@HOME — a remote version of the program designed to keep students engaged and active while learning from home. ICDI@HOME preserves the core tenets of mentoring, goal setting, and recognition while adapting activities to home environments, ensuring that students with disabilities continue to have access to the program's benefits regardless of their learning setting.
Get Involved
If you are interested in learning more about the I Can Do IT! program or bringing it to your school or district, please reach out. The program is available to any K-12 school or district committed to supporting the physical activity needs of students with disabilities.
Contact Jayne Greenberg directly by email at Jayne.Greenberg@acl.hhs.gov or by phone at 202-768-3557. Additional information, resources, and program registration materials are available on the official ICDI program website.
About the Author
Jayne Greenberg— Program Director, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Dr. Jayne D. Greenberg is a Program Director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She previously served as District Director of Physical Education and Health Literacy for Miami-Dade County Public Schools for 22 years. Her accomplishments include serving as FAHPERD President, receiving the 2005 National Physical Education Administrator of the Year award, appointment to President Obama's Council for Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition in 2011, induction into the SHAPE America Hall of Fame in 2019, and securing over $39 million in federal and foundation grants.