Every year, special education teachers are faced with the same difficult problem. How do we appropriately serve a students who have a wide range of function levels all in one class? I help students who are physically very high functioning to students who are in wheelchairs. The students I currently serve are 5 to 22 years old and have a variety of intellectual, physical, and sensory impairments. Some of them have Down syndrome, autism, seizure disorders, cerebral palsy, and many other disabilities. These diagnoses all include impairments such as poor strength and control as well as balance deficits and limitations with coordination. These limitations can be addressed through strengthening activities.
They just want to play and have fun with the other kids, and it is my job to come up with ways to accomplish this by getting the necessary equipment to make this possible.
Riding on the bicycle would help enhance their balance and coordination skills. Many of my students often don’t play on a sports team or get picked to participate with their general education peers. My classes are set up so that these students can build their skills to be included with their families, friends, and peers.
My Project
Our goal is to always give our students opportunities in which they can feel successful and included in. These materials will help with their physical therapy, trunk strength, coordination, balance, gross motor development, and self-esteem. Through Adapted PE, our students will also learn what it means to be a part of a group and also the chance to form friendships. Giving students with disabilities this opportunity is an investment in their life-long fitness and will directly have an impact on their growth and development. We have built an Adapted Physical Education program to help my special needs students be able to participate in as many activities/games as possible with friends, family, and peers. We want to set it up so they are as successful as possible. The lack of specialized equipment sometimes make this a very hard task.
Help me give my students a chance to feel the joy of riding a bicycle.
Everybody is different and has different abilities. My students come to class every day with huge smiles. They are the most extraordinary kids a teacher could have.
Help me give my students the ability to expand and develop their ever-growing gross motor skills by participating in our bicycle program in Adapted PE with new and fun equipment. I am truly happy and very lucky to work with these diverse and unique students every day.
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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