Many organizations across the United States are increasingly pushing for the physical education professionals to have the children with special needs undertake physical education as either after-school programs or as a community-based program for the children. It has been reported that physical activity is five times lower for children and youth with disabilities as compared to the other peers without disabilities. However, the major questions that arise are, what is the significance of APE for the children with disabilities? What skills and competence do the special education professionals require to help these children undertake their physical activity? Many benefits have been associated with having children with disabilities engage in the APE.
Exercise plays a vital role in the developmental stages of all children. Studies have shown that physical education programs can play a crucial role not only to improve the lifestyle of the children with disabilities but also to increase their competence, social skills, and self-esteem ( Klein & Hollingshead, 2015 ). The children with disabilities need physical education to help them in the improvement of physical health as well as their well-being. Engaging them in regular physical education and sports provides the opportunity for them to become fit, flexible and less prone to other conditions such as obesity. Studies have also shown that engaging children with disability in physical education can help in the cognitive improvements. The structure of physical education allows children with disabilities to develop self-regulation skills as well as decision-making abilities. The physical education can help children with disabilities increase their focus on specific goals and interact with their peers. Children with disabilities also need physical education to help them in mental improvement. As they interact with others during the activity, they reduce anxiety, stress, and depression even as they develop a broader sense of accomplishment as well as self-confidence.
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The key competencies that are required from for one to be an APE professional is the physical education certificate qualification. At the same time, the individuals may be required to hold adapted physical education endorsement ( Capel & Whitehead, 2015 ). These skills allow professionals to understand the physical needs of children with disabilities and help them improve their fitness. They must also have the necessary skills to help them identify various talents that children with disabilities have and then help them explore and grow such talents. It is recommended that individuals who want to provide physical education to the children with disabilities hold an endorsement in Adapted Physical Education because, by this, they will possess all the required skills and competencies to handle the physical training children with special needs.
APE professionals can help advocate for the disability sports for their children by planning and incorporating the physical education curricula into all the structures and programs. By ensuring that the program is incorporated into the curriculum and mobilizing support from the special education stakeholders, the APE professionals will increase the chances of the children with disabilities to take part in physical education ( Winnick & Porretta, 2016 ). The professionals can also do mobilization to ensure that adequate community facilities, sporting venues and public awareness are done to promote the chances of children with disability to participate in physical activity. Seeking support from the members of the community to support the children with disabilities to take part in the physical activity can ensure that there is sufficient facilities as well as resources to promote the physical health amongst such children.
An example of a disability sports organization is the Disabled Sports USA. This is an organization that was formed with the mission of providing the children and adults with disabilities the opportunity to develop physical fitness, confidence, and independence by taking part in organized sports activities. The organization focuses on providing equal access to physical activity and sports for those with disabilities. The people who have the chance of participating in the Disabled Sports USA programs are those with visual impairment, spinal cord injuries, autism and amputations among many other disabilities. The reason for choosing this organization is due to its unique feature known as chapter-based which works and operates 100 community-based programs in thirty-seven states. It plays a key role in promoting physical activity amongst those with disabilities across the United States by availing its programs in several states within the US.
Physical education plays a key role in the lives of children as well as adults with disabilities. It increases their physical fitness, cognitive functioning and promotes mental fitness by reducing stress, depression, and anxiety. To effectively work to help the children with disabilities in physical education, the APE professionals need to have skills and competencies in many areas. They need to be qualified as physical education professionals and need to hold an endorsement in the adapted physical education. Advocating for children with disabilities to undertake physical education require mobilization and seeking support from stakeholders as well as the community to provide facilities and resources that will promote physical activity amongst children with disability.
The recommendation is that the special education stakeholders should work together with the community to end the inequality that exists in the access the physical education. People with disabilities have all along been facing inequality and limited chance of participating in physical activity and sports. APE professionals also need to work together with the parents and other community members to ensure that children with disabilities receive both social and financial support that will encourage them to take part in physical education. By doing this, many people with disabilities will see the importance of taking part in physical exercise. What the community needs are to end the barriers that prevent people with disabilities from taking part in physical education.
References
Winnick, J., & Porretta, D. (Eds.). (2016). Adapted Physical Education and Sport, 6E . Human Kinetics.
Capel, S., & Whitehead, M. (2015). Learning to Teach Physical Education in the Secondary School: A companion to school experience . Routledge.
Klein, E., & Hollingshead, A. (2015). Collaboration between special and physical education: The benefits of a healthy lifestyle for all students. Teaching Exceptional Children , 47 (3), 163-171.
