October is already here! In keeping with our Fall activities theme, we would like to present "Games for the 31 Days of October." This is specifically geared toward younger children (pre-K up to grades 1 or 2).

Next we have an overview of, and a description of, helpful activities for Cerebral Palsy. Also included is a brief summary describing two new web-based courses in our field, which we are now offering here at the University of Florida for anyone interested in 'Adapted Physical Activities' or 'Medical/Health Aspects of Individuals with Disabilities.' Parents, teachers, and students from anywhere are welcome to register. There are three terms a year which start in August, January, and May.

Finally, we have the latest updates regarding the Adapted PE National Standards (APENS), and the National Consortium for Physical Education and Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities (NCPERID). Have a wonderful Autumn Season!

Chris Stopka
Adapted Section Editor

Charis Brown and Christine Stopka have created a document of 31 games, such as Mummy Maker, Popcorn, Beep Ball Roll and Scavenger Hunt, which I have listed below. Download the complete list.

	Mummy Maker
	Ask a child to wrap another child with toilet paper or paper towels (good for little ones). The idea is to have the "mummy" wrapped so that only the child's eyes are peeking out. (Sensory Stimulation and Discrimination Tactile Activity). Important Note: Please adapt this activity further by keeping the arms out and wrapping only up to the chest. Wrap loosely so that the "mummy" can free himself/herself immediately if desired! This is supposed to be a cuddly activity, not a scary activity!
	Popcorn
	Scatter yarn balls throughout the playing area. Players move around the room but do not touch any of the popcorn kernels while the oil heats up. When given the "pop" cue, each player begins picking up balls, one at a time, and underhand tossing them toward the ceiling. Each player pops a piece of popcorn, shouting out "Pop!" with each toss. Stop after a designate period. Game can be adapted for students in wheelchairs by beginning game with balls already in their laps, and they must move to different places on the playing area between each "pop."
	Beep Ball Roll
	Ask 2 children to sit, facing a partner. With eyes closed, the children roll a beep ball back and forth between their legs. Start with children's feet touching so their legs form a diamond. (Sensory Stimulation and Discrimination Proprioceptive Activity) **Similar activity is Hide A Beep Ball, where children must find hidden beep ball with closed eyes.** NOTE: If you have no"beep ball," balls with sounds can be found in the infant, and even pet toy, sections of a local store. Even dollar stores may have suitable, safe, rolling toys that make sounds or jingling noises.
	Scavenger Hunt
	Harvest theme-pumpkin, cornucopia, turkey cut-outs, candy corn, peppermints, M&M's. Children would love to go on a Turkey Egg Hunt with your plastic Easter eggs left over from last spring.

...Certified Adapted Physical Educator!

Take the Adapted Physical Education National Standards Exam (APENS)! The APENS National Exam date is Saturday, June 3, 2006 and the application deadline is April 30, 2006.

If you would like more information regarding the APENS National Standards Manual, APENS Study Guide, or APENS Application, please visit the www.cortland.edu/APENS/ or Contact:

Timothy D. Davis, Ph.D.,
CAPE APENS Chair SUNY Cortland
Cortland, NY 13045
1-888-APENS-EXam or 607-753-4969

The National Consortium for Physical Education and Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities (NCPERID) has a new web site!

Readers are welcome to link to the site to learn more about his Advocacy organization, founded to help and support those involved in the field of adapted physical activity.

Cerebral Palsy: An Overview and Implications for Physical Activities - Aimee Erbacher and Christine Stopka give a detailed description of Cerebral Palsy, and the effects it has on children. They also provide suggestions to parents on how to help your child succeed, as well as suggestions to physical education teachers about adaptations that can be made in the classroom.

(added by webmaster: See also the article "Belly dancer shakes cerebral palsy limits" published September 26, 2005).

New Courses in Adapted Physical Education: Now Available to All on the Web! - By: Jessica Brennan & Christine Stopka

The College of Health and Human Performance at the University of Florida will offer two adapted physical education distance education courses in the Fall of 2005.

Both courses, Medical and Health Aspects for Individuals with Disabilities and Adapted Physical Activity, have long been offered at the UF campus as both semester long courses and seminars. Because of the high demand for the content taught, UF has sought to expand its availability to the community, particularly those involved in adapted activity.

Medical and Health Aspects for Individuals with Disabilities will help individuals understand and apply the medical, biological, health and pathophysiological information related to many disabling conditions. Disabilities discussed will include those in areas of orthopedics, neurophysiology and health. Additional subjects incorporated include public law requirements, sports medical considerations and classroom teaching techniques.

The Adapted Physical Activity course is designed to increase one’s skill in providing physical education and sport programs for children with physical, mental, learning, sensory and multiple disabilities. The content covers all ability levels from elite wheelchair sports to elementary school field days. Other specific subjects include adaptive equipment, inclusive teaching, assistive technology, Hippotherapy, and adapted aquatics.

Course content will be communicated through various instructional mediums. This will include lectures by both Dr. Christine Stopka, course professor, and other experts in the field of adapted physical education, interactive discussion sessions with fellow students and experts, demonstrations and presentations by people with disabilities and practical activities which utilize the information taught throughout the courses.

These courses meet the State Department of Education requirements for continuing education units in physical education, including motor and mental deficiencies, coaching disabled and adapted aquatics courses. These courses also satisfy the coursework requirement for the Adapted PE National Standards (APENS) Certified Adapted Physical Education (CAPE) credential.

Each course is designed and instructed by Dr. Christine Stopka, a professor with 27 years of teaching experience in the areas of adapted physical activities, adapted aquatics, athletic training, and sports medicine. Throughout her distinguished career at UF, Stopka has established the athletic training and sports medicine undergraduate and graduate specializations, while simultaneously creating the special physical education and exercise therapy specializations, as well.

Furthermore, Stopka has more than 300 publications, including the fourth edition of her book, Applied Special Physical Education and Exercise Therapy. She has been invited to speak at more than 300 state, national and international conferences regarding adapted physical activity and sports medical topics, and has generated more than $2 million in funding. For her dedication to the field, Stopka has received more than 70 honors at the state, regional, national and international levels and currently is serving as Vice-President of the National Consortium for Physical Education and Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities.

Both courses are available worldwide for Fall, Spring, and Summer terms, starting with the Fall semester of 2005. For more information or to register for these courses please see their respective web sites: College of Health and Human Performance at links one or two.

All Kids Can is a disabilities awareness program that helps students of all ages learn attitudes of acceptance, dignity and respect toward all people, especially those with disabilities.

Physical Activity and Exercise Recommendations for Stroke Survivors - Annually, 700 000 people in the United States suffer a stroke, or 1 person every 45 seconds, and nearly one third of these strokes are recurrent. This article is a Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association.

Special Populations - This site has an excellent list of books, textbooks, and videos that provide exercise solutions for people of many different abilities.

I Know I Can Do It, Sports are for Disabled Children Too - A good article, with activity adaptions and sport alternatives.

Creative Play Activities for Children With Disabilities - A Resource Book for Teachers and Parents. You will discover 250 games and activities designed to help infants to 8-year-olds with all types of disabilities grow through play.

Munch a Lunch - teaching unit. Students will research, learn about, and evaluate healthy eating by planning, shopping for, preparing, and creating a healthy lunch. Students can gather recipes to create a multimedia healthy lunch recipe book.

This lesson is anchored with seventh/eighth grade trainable, mentally handicapped students and involves health, math and life skills. Collaborate group size will be determined by individual class. The lesson can easily be extended to additional grades and subjects.

Check out family recreation sport at family-friendly-sport.com. Scroll down the page to see lots of fun physical activities for either family home fun, or school fun!

Citizenship and Disability - A classroom resource for teachers. A microsite created by the Disability Rights Commission with the intention of providing a resource for teachers to enable them to provoke thought and reflection amongst students about disability issues.