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Adapted Physical Education

March 12, 2001, Vol. 3, No.6

CONFERENCE/WORKSHOP CALENDAR

 Editorial
Welcome to "Adapted PE" on PELINKS4U. This issue of the Adapted PE Page of PELinks4U focuses on paraprofessionals in education. Students with disabilities can enjoy a more meaningful experience in physical activity if the paraprofessional is included as part of the service delivery team.

The links on this page are resources designed to help paraprofessionals and physical educators work as a team. The ultimate goal remains providing the best physical education experience for students.

John O'Connor Ph.D.,
Section Editor

 Featured Articles

Working with Paraprofessionals

How should a physical educator begin the process of working with a paraprofessional? Many physical educators feel they do not have the preparation to supervise other adults. This link provides some insight into the process of working with, and supervising paraprofessionals.

The training program contains instructional strategies, background information, case studies, and other resources that personnel developers can use to provide teachers with the skills required to:

  • Plan for and integrate paraprofessionals into the instructional team,
  • Communicate with, and direct paraprofessionals, and
  • Provide on-the-job training to paraprofessionals.
Paraprofessional Training

This link provides online resources related to research into the roles and training of paraprofessionals. Teachers and paraprofessionals may be interested in gaining information on what is being done in the field of paraprofessional training.

Paraprofessionals and Teachers Working Together

This link explores the roles of paraprofessionals and of the teachers who supervise them. What is the role of the teacher in working with a paraprofessional? How should the job descriptions of paraprofessionals spell out their roles and responsibilities? This link illustrates many good examples of establishing a program which maximizes the paraprofessional/teacher relationship.

  University Sponsored
 
Check out THE Adapted PE Site on the Web:
Project INSPIRE at Texas Woman's University.

Click and appreciate the informative site on Disability Sport from Michigan State University.

Visit the Adapted Physical Education Advocacy Page from Mankato State University.

  


"We cannot change anything until we accept it. Condemnation does not liberate, it oppresses."

~ C. G. Jung, Psychological Reflections ~


 Adapted PE Teaching Ideas

Paraprofessional Resources

Paraprofessionals may feel that they are alone in their struggle to understand the role they play in providing physical education services to students with disabilities. This link provides a number of resources for the paraprofessional. There is information related to training, competencies, and newsletters. Paraprofessionals can develop a sense of community and a stronger feeling of responsibility.

Paraprofessionals at Their Best

Wouldn't it be nice to have examples of paraprofessionals working with educators as role models of excellence? This link provides such examples. The role of the paraprofessional is evolving, and increasingly, paraprofessionals are becoming integral members of the educational team in meeting the needs of students with disabilities.

The Consortium has identified schools (through a nomination and selection process) that use effective strategies or practices for supporting, training, supervising, involving paraprofessionals in the planning process, and retaining paraprofessionals.

How Do I Collaborate?

Teachers and paraprofessionals need to work together to make the educational experience of students a success. This link looks at barriers to collaboration between teachers and paraprofessionals, and strategies to make collaborative efforts more successful.

 

 Hot Ideas from Sportime

Collaboration as an Applied Process

Working together toward a common goal can be a rewarding experience. This article discusses the steps that should be taken to make collaboration successful. The steps are demonstrated in a camping setting, but the techniques can be applied to any setting in which people work together.

 
It would be possible to describe everything scientifically, but it would make no sense; it would be without meaning, as if you described a Beethoven symphony as a variation of wave pressure.

~ Albert Einstein ~

 Miscellaneous
 
For professional information regarding disabilities, check out the wonderful National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities web site.

For professional updates regarding issues affecting the education of learners with disabilities, check out the comprehensive Council for Exceptional Children web site.

For information specifically related to physical education for individuals with disabilities, visit the Advocate Webpage. Published by the National Consortium, and edited by Deb Buswell, Ph.D., this newsletter is an essential tool for professionals in adapted physical education.

  Archives
 
Please let your colleagues know about PELINKS4U, and remember you can catch up on a year's worth of news in our Archives.
  

 Featured Web Sites

DON'T MISS!

This site is growing rapidly and is bound to become one of the best resources for information related to physical activity and individuals with disabilities. Developed at the Department of Disability and Human Development at the University of Illinois in Chicago, in partnership with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) and the National Center on Accessibility (NCA) at Indiana University, this website provides information and resources on physical activity and individuals with disabilities.

 No Limits

Exercising With a Disability

"You've heard that everyone should be exercising, but what if you have a disability? It's hard enough taking care of the basics if you're a wheelchair user or have other physical handicaps and you may have put exercise way down on your list of priorities. If you've neglected your exercise routine, now is a good time to get started."

This site offers exercise routines, information, links, and the benefits of exercise for individuals with many types of disabilities. Check out "No Limits - Exercising With a Disability" to read the rest of this article.

  Physical Education Books
Developmental/Adapted Physical Education: Making Ability Count
by Carl B. Eichstaedt and
Leonard H. Kalakian
Amazon.com

Principles and Methods of Adapted Physical Education and Recreation with Gross Motor Activities Booklet
by David Auxter
Amazon.com

Adapted Physical Education for Students With Autism
by Kimberly Davis
Amazon.com

  

 Contribute YOUR Ideas

If you have ideas, comments, letters to share, or questions about particular topics, please email one of the following Adapted PE Section Editors:

Carol Huettig
Kristi Roth
John O'Connor
Cindy Piletic

Help to support quality physical education and health education by contributing to this site.

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