The number of public-school students with disabilities has increased in the last decade, as has support for teaching students with and without disabilities in the same setting. Consequently, sufficient adapted physical education (APE) training for pre-service physical education teachers is critical to ensure meaningful physical education…

Children with visual impairments are often behind their same-age peers in motor skills and physical activity (Haibach et al., 2014; Lieberman et al., 2010). Their physical education teachers and coaches do not always know how to include them in general physical education programs (Conroy, 2012; Haegele & Sutherland, 2015; Haegele & Zhu,…

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 2004 students with disabilities are entitled to specially designed physical education in the least restrictive environment outlined in their Individualized Education Program (IEP). Adapted Physical Education (APE) is physical education designed to meet the needs of all children…

The purpose of this review was to analyze English language articles that addressed collaborative consulting in adapted physical education (APE). A systematic process was used to search the literature in six different databases. First, article quality was analyzed. Subsequently, thematic categorization of data was performed. Eleven articles…

Introduction: The expanded core curriculum (ECC) refers to the generally accepted nine areas of instruction that children who are visually impaired (i.e., those who are blind or have low vision) must learn through explicit instruction in order to live independently as adults. Children with visual impairments must experience immersion in the ECC in…

Introduction: This aim of this online study was to determine what teachers of students with visual impairments (TVIs) and orientation and mobility (O&M) specialists learned and experienced in their professional preparation programs regarding physical education, physical activity, and sport for students with visual impairments. Methods: In…

The purpose of this article is to share a validated IEP [individualized education program] checklist for PE [physical education]. This tool can be used by administrators, physical and adapted physical educators, parents, and specialists.

Public Law 94-142, The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (now The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), requires all children with disabilities to be educated in the least restrictive environment (LRE). The LRE requirement means that students with disabilities, to the maximum extent possible, should be educated in the general…

Current research has shown that children with disabilities often felt that their physical education teacher was not prepared to provide them with quality physical education experiences. Over 50% of physical education teachers did not feel prepared to teach children with disabilities. The purpose of this article is to share a "Needs Assessment…

According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act every student that has a documented disability is required to have an individualized education program (IEP). The IEP comprises core areas, including physical education. The purpose of this article is to clarify 12 myths about physical education for students with disabilities and help…

An initial step to demonstrate commitment and professional behaviors is to be knowledgeable in the terminology used by special education colleagues, and to share with them common terminology used in physical education settings. Adapted physical education (APE) and general physical education (GPE) teachers need to know terminology used by…

The Paralympic Games are the second largest sport event in the world. They occur two weeks after the Olympic Games in the same geographic location and sport venues. Despite the Paralympic Games' longevity, many Americans do not even know they exist. One way to meaningfully share information about this event with people of all ages is to infuse a…

Physical education teachers and the profession are very often marginalized and minimized by administrators, parents, and students. Adapted physical education is no exception. There are several reasons for the lack of value given to teaching students with special needs in physical education, including issues with placement, stigmatization of…

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act protects students' rights to equal physical education (PE). Most parents, physicians, educators, and administrators do not realize the importance of PE for disabled children nor students' legal rights. This paper examines the current problem and discusses possible solutions (e.g., become familiar…

Physical guidance and tactile modeling, coupled with explanation, are effective methods of improving the motor skills and physical activities of students who are blind (O'Connell, 2000). It is important that students with visual impairment are given the option to use one or the other method with each new skill, since they may have a preference for…