Adaptive Physical Education for Children with Disabilities
The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) requires schools to provide Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for all students. Students with disabilities must receive educational services designed to meet their individual needs, and these services must be provided in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE).
Your child’s adaptive physical education services must be spelled out in their Individualized Education Program (IEP). Your child’s adaptive physical education teacher should also be part of the IEP team. If you have any concerns about the adaptive physical education services that your child is receiving, you have the right to request an IEP meeting to discuss your child’s APE plan and placement.
What Is Adaptive PE?
Adaptive Physical Education (APE) is specifically designed physical education instruction that has been adapted or modified to address the individualized needs of a child with disabilities or gross motor development delays.
Students who receive APE instruction may also be eligible for physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (PT), but these services are separate from their APE plan. Unlike OT and PT providers, an APE teacher is a direct service provider, and the APE teacher must be involved in the IEP process. APE teachers serve students with autism spectrum disorder, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and other disabilities.
If your child receives services from an APE teacher, their IEP should include the following:
- A summary of your child’s present level of APE performance
- Details about the frequency and duration of APE services
- Measurable APE goals and objectives
- Your child’s specific APE placement
- The location(s) where APE services will be provided
APE Teacher Responsibilities
An APE teacher must have an APE teaching credential, which requires additional coursework and certification beyond the certification that a regular physical education teacher must attain. An APE teacher’s duties include:
- Assessing the child’s recent levels of performance
- Determining proper placement
- Monitoring the child’s progress
- Developing IEP goals
- Evaluating physical education services
- Modifying equipment and technology
- Coordinate resources
- Planning appropriate APE activities
- Teaching
- Counseling
- Coaching
- Advocacy
What Is APE Instruction?
A student with disabilities must receive APE services together with their peers, and these services should include group games and activities in a regular physical education setting whenever possible. The APE teacher will develop a program designed to help students with disabilities develop physical and motor skills and fundamental patterns such as throwing, catching, walking, and running.
Adaptations and modifications provided by the APE instructor may include:
- Providing one-to-one instruction
- Decreasing the number of players on teams
- Increasing the time between turns
- Providing additional break time
- Using pictures and verbal prompts to explain concepts
- Providing jerseys to help students identify team members
- Providing equipment that’s lighter, softer, larger, textured, and easier to manipulate
What Types of Activities Does an APE Plan Include?
APE instructors should design activities that are fun and challenging. APE activities may include:
- Croquet
- Frisbee golf
- Relay races
- Ring toss
- T-ball
- Lawn bowling
- Chalk drawing
- Hopscotch
- Hula hoops
- Obstacle courses
- Badminton
- Balloon polo
- Adapted basketball
- Bean bag target games
- Foam or plastic horseshoes
Is Your Child Receiving the Appropriate Adapted Physical Education Services?
Contact Woodsmall Law Group, PC. if you have concerns about your child’s APE placement. The special education lawyers at Woodsmall Law Group, PC. are committed to serving children and adults with learning disabilities and their parents in Los Angeles County, focusing on the San Gabriel Valley. Our attorneys have been practicing law for over 20 years and are committed to helping families make the most of their educational opportunities.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s placement or the services they are receiving, please call our law firm at (626) 440-0028 to schedule a free initial consultation. We speak English and Spanish.