Special Education Student Inclusion in Physical Education / Adaptive Physical Education

This article, from Friendship Circle, goes through 7 ways a physical education teacher can include or accommodate a student with disabilities into their classes. Some can be helped, but turning the lights low, not playing loud music, or creating a schedule for every day, but others are tougher. Sometimes, students with disabilities aren't enrolled in physical education classes, so simply by doing movement breaks or creating fitness or sports routines with a student can really help.

For those special education students who are enrolled in gym classes, teachers can make playgrounds and gyms more accessible for these students, and for themselves, get certified in Adaptive Physical Education (APE), and teach themselves about Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS). Becoming a CAPE, or a Certified Adaptive Physical Educator, requires understanding of the 15 standards of adaptive physical education.

The APE link goes to a page from Wright's Law, which discusses not only the IDEA requirements for physical educators, but breaks them down and interpret them so a physical education teacher can create a strong curriculum around them.

The PBIS link is also from Friendship Circle, and is a two-part article that details the ins and outs of PBIS. The 15 standards link goes to the APENS, or the Adaptive Physical Education National Standards website and details each of the standards.