Developing citizens of tomorrow is what character education is about today. Helping students develop character traits such as empathy, social responsibility, teamwork, and a respect for individual differences make up many of the core missions of character education.
We have a unique opportunity to teach values and a sense of community within physical education settings. How we teach, and respect, individual differences within our classrooms will, and does, affect our students for a lifetime. Many a former peer tutor who has assisted in my classes for students with disabilities reports that what my students and I have taught them will impact them throughout their life. By working along side students with disabilities, our typically developing peers learn patience, advocacy for others, and a sense of accomplishment. They themselves are often changed more dramatically than those they were assisting.
Showing students that you have prepared for, and thought about, the needs of all students within your class gives students the ability to treat others with respect and dignity when engaging in activity. Consider the information on this page as a sounding board for activities, and thought processes, that will help you and your students to value individual differences and truly understand each other's needs without pity. When we truly value each other and our gifts, and talents and needs, we can then develop a community.
The reality is that many of these classmates will go on to impact laws, real estate transactions, human resource services and other very important trends, which affect persons with disabilities. The question is, are you going to help them prepare their character to impact their communities for a better tomorrow?
Kathy Brinker
Adapted Section Editor
Editorial content does not necessarily reflect the opinions and perspectives of PELINKS4U.
|
Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged
Long Island, NY
June 1-3, 2006 |
Brockport, NY
Mid-October, 2006 |
The Games for the Physically Challenged offers competition in a variety of adapted sports, plus fitness for young people with physical challenges. The program is free to athletes and spectators through the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and lovingly supported by the unselfish efforts of loyal volunteers. |
| Below you will find various games that you should easily be able to adapted based on the needs of your students.
Blind Fetch - Set up two to three teams and assign one person on each team to be blindfolded. Once all chosen players are blindfolded and teams are established, have one person throw out the ball into the play area. Each team is to stand back from behind a designated line and instruct their teammate where the ball is by yelling out instructions.
If a player finds the ball, they are to return to the team while still blindfolded and they receive 3 points. If another person with a blindfold tags them, that team receives 1 point. Then another team member from each team will try to complete the same task. Blind Fetch is a great game for Physical Educators, Youth Groups, picnic game or party game. - source: Funattic
Blinded Four Corner - Here’s a quickie game that can be played in the classroom or wherever. Select one player to wear a blindfold and they are to be placed into the center of the room. Once the player is blindfolded and in position, the other players must stand in one of the four corners. They must do this very quietly (no talking allowed) and within 10 seconds. If a player is not in a corner by the time your done counting, that player is out of the game.
The player that is blindfolded will point to one of the corners and all the players in that corner will be out of the game. To be fair you cannot go to one corner, make noises and then quickly move to another corner. If no one is in a selected corner, the players have 5 seconds to get to another corner before a new corner is selected. The one person that was never found will be the new player in the middle. - source: Funattic
Blanket Volleyball - This is a great team building games, and one that should be easily adapted. |
|
 |
|
What workout suggestions do you have for developing physical fitness when working with students who have special abilities? Please post
in the forum.
|
|
|
Facilitating a community which respects and values individual differences in our classrooms, as well as in life, is a glorious goal for educators. Character education has had a cyclic popularity within education. Currently national programs in character education are popping up in record numbers. Entire communities (including schools, health and safety, government and other not-for profit organizations) are supporting character education with money and work force. Communities see the need for raising the future of tomorrow with quality values and citizenship, which will last a lifetime.
For our students with disabilities, it is a time of inclusion with their peers. For some it is toleration rather than true respect. For others it is a time of understanding, embracing, and respecting individual differences. Physical activity is a great way to teach and empower children to understand individual differences and similarities.
Knowledge is power. Knowledge starts with understanding unique abilities. Kids need simple facts. They need to know that they are not going to “catch” the disability by touching someone in a wheelchair. They need to experience physical activities without their sight to begin to understand the needs of individuals who are visually impaired. Then they need to discuss how they can better use their vision (visual ability) to enhance their daily physical activity.
To experience a disability through physical awareness activities is a great way to truly understand and appreciate differing abilities. Follow up questions/discussions will begin to lead to better awareness and respect for varying abilities.
Are there activities within your curriculum, which will easily adapt to teaching an appreciation of various abilities? Embedding character development activities in your curriculum introduces students to qualities of caring, empathy, respect for differences, and an appreciation of their own abilities. Embedding character development activities in your existing curriculum involves just a little additional planning on your part. When you are in a basketball unit you could develop a station where the students are blindfolded and dribbling a ball while stationary (this will also improve dribbling skills)!
IDEAS:
 |
You can run a day of sit volleyball during your volleyball unit. See U.S. Paralympics for details. |
|
You can consider equalizing teams during ball handling activities using the ability awareness kit (Item #126513741)from sportime. |
|
You can start a best buddies club after school to help others in the school appreciate those with intellectual disabilities whom they are in school with. Not only can lifetime friendships be created, but you can lend your expertise of physical activity to a group of individuals who have a need for appropriate leisure activity training. |
|
As a model for others, it is our responsibility as physical educators to highlight the talents and abilities of all those we encounter. When putting together bulletin boards of individuals in sport, make sure to remember all athletes. |
|
Consider using clipart in your parent letter, website, and tests that evokes the attitude of an individual in a wheelchair as someone who is strong and athletic. |
|
The Character Counts! web site hosts one of the largest, and most widely implemented character education programs. The six pillars of character speak about all aspects of developing integrity, honesty, and a true picture of the “whole citizen” for life.
Three of the six pillars of character, which work nicely when including students with disabilities, are fairness, respect and caring. We talk about these character traits in posted rules, our specific game rules, and our rubrics for team play/sportsmanship. Why not ask open-ended questions such as, “how could we play this game in such a way that it is fair to all the players?” The responses that you get will amaze you! |
|
Are your website, or parent letters, exclusively showing clipart of able-bodied students involved in activity? This website provides clip art of many different individuals with disabilities involved in a wide array of activities. Some of the clipart can be animated for website use. |
|
Character education begins with students understanding others for who they are, and who they may become. For many young students, they do not see the wheels, braces and the canes. They see another child. As students become older they begin to question differences. One way we can help embrace individual differences is through education of specific disabilities. The Project I.N.S.P.I.R.E. website describes (in terms we can all understand) various disabilities and physical activities to assist in learning. |
continued top of next column... |
| If you have ideas, comments,
letters to share, or questions about particular topics, please email
one of the following Adapted PE Section Editors: |
|
|
| continued from previous column
|
When creating bulletin boards consider placing pictures of athletes with disabilities in sport. Help create a positive attitude that sport is sport, and all are athletes. Check out these two websites (U.S. Paralympics & AAASP) for photos of individuals with physical disabilities involved in world-class athletics. |
|
The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD) is a great clearinghouse for understanding how activity can change the lives of individuals with disabilities. Information is provided on how to adapt activities, endless possibilities for recreation, and a large section on exercise resources. The mission of the (NCPAD) is to connect persons with activities and resources, and most importantly to get them moving! |
|
This is a great video resource for inclusion, disability awareness, and other common topics on sensitivity toward others. |
|
World T.E.A.M. Sports is a website dedicated to promoting a true “team." The site promotes lifetime sport opportunities by pairing individuals with disabilities with able-bodied athletes. |
|
Sportime has a wide variety of physical education equipment for people with disabilities. Additionally, a newer item in their Spring 06 catalog is a ability awareness kit (Item #126513741). These activities will allow for everyone to help understand their own abilities through the eyes of others. You can use these activities to teach specific ability awareness, or to even out teams (skill level) in a variety of activities within your physical education setting. Character begins with understanding the needs of others. |
|
Easter Seals is has a great website discussing the facts about disabilities, and dispelling the myths. It also has a health and wellness section, which links you to a variety of recreation/leisure opportunities and discussion of proper nutrition. |
|
Best Buddies is an organization developed to enhance the lives of individuals with intellectual challenges by pairing them up with a buddy, thus promoting friendships. Look at starting a best buddies club at your school! |
|
For those of you who have a continuum of services for individuals with special needs, and have separate adapted physical education for those students who cannot safely and successfully be included in a standard physical education program, peer tutor programs are imperative! Character is developed in both groups as they come to truly understand and develop friendships. NCPAD has a great section about developing peer tutor programs for both general physical education, and adapted physical education programs.
|
April is autism awareness month. The number of individuals diagnosed with autism is ever increasing and physical educators need to continue to understand the varying needs of their students. We know more about how to assist students with autism than we did a year ago. Best practices are always changing with the research so stay informed!
Listed below are several websites, which will assist you in gaining more knowledge regarding students with pervasive developmental disorders.
|
|
