Adaptive physical education is a specialized class that helps disabled children improve their physical fitness, coordination, and social skills through modified physical activities and specialized equipment. The class is tailored to the individual needs of the child and may be held in a regular gymnasium or a specially equipped room.
Adaptive physical education is a class that develops a disabled child’s movement and coordination in such a way that the child can fully participate in an activity with peers and, with practice, be successful in the activity. A child with a disability is placed in this specialized setting and provided with appropriate physical activities after a physical education teacher trained in adapted physical education assesses her abilities. Every effort is made to hold the specialized physical education class in a regular gymnasium with other able-bodied students, often with the help of the disabled student’s paraprofessional educator. However, when the child’s disability prevents this situation, and the child’s safety in a standard gymnasium is in question, the child will participate in a class held in a specially equipped room and may work individually with the education teacher. physical. .
The goal of adapted physical education is to increase the physical fitness, flexibility, and coordination of a disabled child. You will also work to teach disabled child success through practice and to enhance social interaction and cooperation with peers. Whenever possible, these goals are achieved by modifying a standard physical education class and changing it slightly to accommodate the abilities of a disabled child. An example of children who may require an adapted physical education class include children with vision problems, underdeveloped gross motor skills, or children confined to wheelchairs.
Adaptive physical education can use specialized sports equipment to help a disabled child participate in a standard activity. For example, a disabled child may use a hockey stick with a thick, ergonomic handle and a striking area that makes noise when the puck is struck, or an oversized badminton racket and shuttlecock in bright, contrasting colors. These pieces of adaptive equipment allow the disabled child to play with her peers, more likely to succeed in the game and develop the coordination necessary to play the game.
Before a child enters an adapted physical education class, a teacher trained in adapted education assesses their movement, coordination, and social skills. After the evaluation, an individualized education program is developed that describes how the physical education class will be adapted so that the disabled child can participate safely and improve the physical education skills. The evaluation will determine if the child needs an educator or paraprofessional to help her in the gym and what forms of adaptive equipment she will need. In rare cases, if a student’s disability jeopardizes her safety in a standard gym, she will be taught in a specially equipped room.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
