"Helping General Physical Educators and Adapted Physical Educators Address the Office of Civil Rights Dear Colleague Guidance Letter: Part IV--Sport Groups" provides the the following articles: (1) "Sport Programming Offered by Camp Abilities and the United States Association for Blind Athletes" (Lauren Lieberman and Mark…

Students with disabilities have had a great deal to say about their experiences in general physical education, both positive and negative. Positive remarks include that they feel more "normal" and enjoy how their friends help them and make them feel part of the group. But students with disabilities also express that they are not always allowed to…

Adapted physical education (APE) is designed to meet the unique needs of children with disabilities within the least restrictive environment. Placement in the right environment can help the child succeed, but the wrong environment can create a very negative experience. This article presents a systematic approach to making decisions when…

For students with disabilities, annual goals are the nuts and bolts of the everyday program outlined in their individualized education program (IEP). According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004, a present level of performance with measurable annual goals must be outlined in a student's IEP. Goals should…

The increase of inclusive education in the United States has heightened the need for disability awareness among individuals without disabilities. Fostering awareness and openness to different ability levels in the classroom is a skill many educators need to develop. The purpose of this article is to describe how adapted physical educators, as well…

Many paraeducators work with individuals with disabilities and follow them throughout their day to their various classes. In such cases, the paraeducator may be asked to attend physical education with the child with a disability and do tasks he or she is not trained to do. Paraeducators can be extremely helpful in many ways, but there is a need to…

More than ever, students with disabilities are being included in general physical education classes, recess, and extracurricular sports. To ensure successful experiences in these settings, it is important for the teacher to provide an environment of acceptance and for the students without disabilities to have a positive attitude towards students…

Pierre, a second-grade student, has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair to ambulate. He is very social and enjoys interaction with his peers. Pierre has a paraeducator named Maria, who is assigned to assist him. His Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals were independence in ambulation, fine motor skills, and flexibility. His special…

Emphasizes the importance of effective communication in ensuring that deaf children have an appropriate and successful physical education experience, looking at issues related to the psychomotor abilities of deaf children, discussing the need for educational interpreters in the physical education class, and explaining the communication…