Adapted Physical Education
Important Information
What is Adapted Physical Education?
A disability is any physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a person in some major life activity such as walking, talking, breathing, or working. Students with disabilities need physical education as much as their non-disabled peers.
Physical education activities stimulate the central nervous system for optimal growth and development, assist in bone mineralization, promote the maintenance of lean body mass, Unreduced obesity, improve the function of the heart and develop movement skills that are necessary for an active lifestyle. For many students with disabilities, movement is a mode for learning. Physical education can help students with and without disabilities learn to work and play together in movement and recreational activities available to all members of the community. Through an adapted physical education program that provides challenging activities, students with disabilities develop self-esteem by way of increased confidence, assertiveness, independence, and self-control.
A quality physical education program provides the foundation for a healthy, happy, and productive lifestyle. This we owe to all students.
According to Public Law 105-17, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), “Physical education services, specially designed if necessary, must be made available to every child with a disability receiving a free appropriate public education.” An appropriate physical education program should be discussed at IEP meetings and goals and objectives should be included in the IEP whenever a student needs an adapted physical education program. Adapted physical education is a “specially designed physical education program as prescribed in the student’s IEP” (PL 105-17).
