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 |
| Games for the 31 Days of October |
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.
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Mummy Maker |
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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 |
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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 |
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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.
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|
Scavenger Hunt |
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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.
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What workout suggestions do you have for developing physical
fitness when working with students who have special abilities?
Post in the forum.
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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.
|
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.
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| If you have ideas, comments,
letters to share, or questions about particular topics, please email
one of the following Adapted PE Section Editors: |
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|
| Step
'n Go is Changing Lives - One Step at a Time
Step 'n Go is a 3-wheel, step-action, self balancing cycle which
combines gentle weight bearing aerobic exercise with the excitement
and fun of biking.
Step 'n Go eliminates the circular pedaling motion (which can
be difficult or impossible for many people) and replaces it with
a much easier and more natural up-and-down stepping action, more
like walking than cycling.
To propel the Step 'n Go, the rider shifts his weight from one
foot to the other. The patented treadle transmission converts
any movement into forward motion, no matter whether the strokes
are short, long or uneven. The treadles are linked, so that as
one falls in the power stroke, the other rises.
The Step 'n Go celebrates the best of universal design, breaking
down the barriers between able-bodied and disabled riders. Many
enlightened physical therapists and rehabilitation specialists
now recommend the Step 'n Go for therapeutic recreation programs
to improve co-ordination, balance and motor skills. - source:
site
This is a site really worth checking out. The bike looks like
great fun for people of all abilities, and so much good information
is offered that you should plan to spend some time here.
This bike has been excepted for payment by many health insurers.
Movement-to-Music
(MTM) - Using music to help children with disabilities play.
Inclusive
Physical Activity: A Lifetime of Opportunities. An
instructor resource with instructor guide and test package. From
Human Kinetics so check out both these links as they go to
seperate web pages.
The
Big Book of Family Fun - From Amazon.com: Book Description:
"Life is so short, and the time we have with our children
is even shorter," writes Gwen Ellis. "Why shouldn't
it be fun to be together?" In The Big Book of Family Fun,
she shows parents how to make happy memories without spending
a lot of money.
Ellis teaches how to establish traditions, celebrate everything
from Groundhog Day to the longest day of the year, and expose
children to cultural events. Parents short on time (and who isn't?)
will appreciate the many practical tips on time management. Ellis
also brings her keen sense of thriftiness to the topic with an
amazing array of money-saving ideas.
Packed with hundreds of ideas, this book brings together the
very best of three popular books: Raising Kids on Purpose for
the Fun of It, Finding Time for Family Fun, and Finding Dollars
for Family Fun. Families from every economic and life situation
will learn how to make each day an adventure in fun, learning,
and togetherness.
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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.
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