Adapted Physical Educators: The Multiple Roles of Consultants

2004 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca K. Lytle ◽  
Gayle E. Hutchinson
Keyword(s):  
Physical Education ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Multiple Roles ◽  
Adapted Physical Education ◽  
Physical Educators ◽  
Education Data ◽  
Experience Teaching ◽  
Teacher Training Programs ◽  
Adapted Physical Educators ◽  
Depth Interviews

The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences and roles adapted physical educators engaged in during consultation interactions. Participants included 4 females and 2 males with experience teaching (range of 3-21 years) in the field of adapted physical education. Data collection included a demographic data sheet, two individual in-depth interviews, interview notes, document analysis, and field observations. Results indicate that participants experienced and made meaning for five distinct roles, including advocate, educator, courier, supporter/helper, and resource coordinator. These findings and future discoveries may influence curriculum and pedagogical approaches for adapted physical education teacher training programs.

Strategies to Increase Self-, Student, and Discipline Advocacy in Adapted Physical Education

2021 ◽  
pp. 004005992110188
Author(s):  
Alyssa M. Trad ◽  
K. Andrew R. Richards ◽  
Wesley J. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Physical Education ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Individualized Education Program ◽  
Adapted Physical Education ◽  
Physical Education Teachers ◽  
Physical Educators ◽  
Functional Understanding ◽  
Adapted Physical Educators ◽  
General Physical ◽  
General Physical Education

While sharing some characteristics with their general physical education colleagues, adapted physical educators also face unique challenges related to their role. For example, both general and adapted physical education teachers encounter stress stemming from the marginalized nature of their discipline but may navigate such experiences differently. Adapted physical education teachers often serve in itinerant roles travelling among multiple schools and may provide services for upwards of 100 students. They must also have a functional understanding of a wide variety of disabilities, individualize instruction for each student, collaborate with service providers across several schools, and be an active team member in the individualized education program process. As a result, they may need to advocate for themselves, their students, and the role of the discipline in different and unique ways. Drawing from research on general and adapted physical education teacher socialization, and available research-informed practices, the purpose of this paper is to describe the unique stressors associated with teaching adapted physical education and strategies they may implement as part of local advocacy.

Adapted Physical Education in the Special Education Process

2020 ◽  
pp. 61-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Mcnamara ◽  
Cheng-Chen Pan
Keyword(s):  
Physical Education ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Individualized Education Program ◽  
Adapted Physical Education ◽  
Physical Educators ◽  
Special Education Process ◽  
Adapted Physical Educators ◽  
The Individual ◽  
General Physical ◽  
General Physical Education

Adapted physical education (APE) services have the same overall objectives as general physical education; however, adapted physical educators should implement accommodations and modifications to personalize the programs to meet the individual needs of students with disabilities. Because of the high levels of health disparity for people with disabilities, as well as cognitive and socio-emotional benefits associated with physical activity and exercise, it is crucial that students with disabilities receive high-quality APE programming. To give the readers a broad overview of APE and how it should be implemented, this chapter covers the following topics: physical education and physical literacy, the benefits of physical education and exercise for students with disabilities, federal laws in relation to physical education for students with disabilities, the role of adapted physical educators in interdisciplinary team approaches within the individualized education program process, and highlighting specialized teaching strategies and specialized equipment for students with disabilities.

Workplace Experiences of Adapted Physical Educators: A Comparison of Educators With and Without National Certification

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Wesley J. Wilson ◽  
Steven K. Holland ◽  
Justin A. Haegele ◽  
K. Andrew R. Richards
Keyword(s):  
Physical Education ◽  
Organizational Support ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
National Standards ◽  
Adapted Physical Education ◽  
Physical Education Teachers ◽  
Physical Educators ◽  
Workplace Experiences ◽  
Adapted Physical Educators ◽  
Perceived Mattering

Purpose: To better understand the workplace experiences of adapted physical education teachers with particular attention given to differences between those with and without Adapted Physical Education National Standards certification. Role socialization theory was used as the theoretical framework to explore how teachers navigate the contexts of their work environment. Methods: The participants included a total of 233 adapted physical education teachers, 131 with certification and 102 without it. The participants completed an online survey examining marginalization and isolation, perceived mattering, role stress, resilience, job satisfaction, perceived organizational support, and emotional exhaustion. Results: Certified adapted physical educators perceived less marginalization and role ambiguity and more perceived mattering than their noncertified counterparts. Discussion/Conclusion: These findings are consistent with other research suggesting the positive association between workplace experiences and advanced certifications. As the requirements for certification continue to advance and change, this study highlights the need for the continued study of advanced certification.

Comparison of Attitudes of Regular and Adapted Physical Educators toward Disabled Individuals

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 425-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
April Tripp
Keyword(s):  
Physical Education ◽  
Emotionally Disturbed ◽  
Disabled Persons ◽  
Adapted Physical Education ◽  
Physical Education Teachers ◽  
Physical Educators ◽  
Attitudes Toward Disabled ◽  
The Disabled ◽  
Adapted Physical Educators ◽  
Teachers Attitudes

The Attitudes Toward Disabled Persons Scale (Form B) and a ranking survey of 10 disabling conditions were administered to 38 physical education teachers and 47 adapted physical education teachers. Both groups of teachers' attitudes toward the disabled were below the scale median. Both groups of teachers were more accepting of individuals with physical disabilities such as, amputee, harelip, and epilepsy, than individuals who were mentally retarded, cerebral palsied, and emotionally disturbed.

Adapted Physical Education in the Special Education Process

2022 ◽  
pp. 172-190
Author(s):  
Scott Mcnamara ◽  
Cheng-Chen Pan
Keyword(s):  
Physical Education ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Individualized Education Program ◽  
Adapted Physical Education ◽  
Physical Educators ◽  
Special Education Process ◽  
Adapted Physical Educators ◽  
The Individual ◽  
General Physical ◽  
General Physical Education

Adapted physical education (APE) services have the same overall objectives as general physical education; however, adapted physical educators should implement accommodations and modifications to personalize the programs to meet the individual needs of students with disabilities. Because of the high levels of health disparity for people with disabilities, as well as cognitive and socio-emotional benefits associated with physical activity and exercise, it is crucial that students with disabilities receive high-quality APE programming. To give the readers a broad overview of APE and how it should be implemented, this chapter covers the following topics: physical education and physical literacy, the benefits of physical education and exercise for students with disabilities, federal laws in relation to physical education for students with disabilities, the role of adapted physical educators in interdisciplinary team approaches within the individualized education program process, and highlighting specialized teaching strategies and specialized equipment for students with disabilities.

Self-Reported Job Responsibilities of Public School Adapted Physical Educators

2003 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 305-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanna Rocco Dillon ◽  
Claudtne Sherrill
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Public School ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Adapted Physical Education ◽  
Physical Educators ◽  
Job Responsibilities ◽  
Job Competencies ◽  
Job Roles ◽  
The Public ◽  
Adapted Physical Educators

The purpose was to survey adapted physical educators, teaching in the public schools, concerning the nature of their work and the percentage of time spent weekly in 14 specific job roles or responsibilities. Of 102 respondents solicited from national conferences, 66 teachers representing 20 states provided usable data. Most respondents worked in urban settings (77%), served an average of 8 schools per week, had an average caseload of 76 students, and saw each student an average of two times a week. Percentages of time spent each week were greatest in direct instruction (43%), traveling (9%), planning instruction (9%), and assessing students (7%). Findings were similar to those reported previously and discussed in relation to job competencies taught in university classes designed to prepare specialists in adapted physical education.

Recruitment and initial socialization into adapted physical education teacher education

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Andrew R Richards ◽  
Wesley J Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
The United States ◽  
Adapted Physical Education ◽  
Physical Education Teachers ◽  
Physical Educators ◽  
Physical Education Teacher ◽  
Education Teacher ◽  
Physical Education Teacher Education ◽  
Adapted Physical Educators

While much has been learned about the socialization of physical education teachers through occupational socialization theory, less is known about the socialization of adapted physical educators. The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences leading individuals to enrol in a graduate-level adapted physical education teacher education programme in the United States. Participants included 17 first semester preservice adapted physical education teachers (5 males, 12 females). Data were collected through two individual interviews with each participant and autobiographical essay writing. Results revealed similarities and differences in the recruitment of adapted physical educators and physical education generalists. Specific themes included: (a) individuals with disabilities were the most powerful socializing agents; (b) both positive and negative experiences in sport and physical education facilitated recruitment; (c) an incomplete apprenticeship of observation framed recruitment; and (d) participants had different background experiences and espoused diverse career goals. Results are discussed with implications focusing on the socialization of both physical educators and adapted physical education specialists.

Prioritizing Adapted Physical Education Goals: A Pilot Study

1990 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 355-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudine Sherrill ◽  
Thomas Montelione
Keyword(s):  
Physical Education ◽  
Paired Comparison ◽  
Adapted Physical Education ◽  
Physical Educators ◽  
Three Samples ◽  
Equal Importance ◽  
High Esteem ◽  
Education Goals ◽  
Adapted Physical Educators ◽  
Comparison Technique

The purpose of this study was to develop and field test an instrument to assist in prioritizing adapted physical education goals. Nine goals were identified, and the paired-comparison technique was selected to examine beliefs concerning the relative importance of each goal. Data were collected from three samples representative of individuals who teach physical education to handicapped students and/or train others to do so. Findings indicated that the goal ranked as most important by each sample was not significantly different from those ranked as second and third in importance. Adapted physical educators consider many goals to be of equal importance. In general, motor skills, fitness, self-concept, and perceptual motor function/sensory integration are held in high esteem whereas creative expression is considered least important. Other goals are assigned intermediate importance. The Goals of Adapted Physical Education Scale (GAPES) is a valid and reliable instrument that offers promise for the further study of adapted physical education goals.

Confronting the Interaction between Perception and Movement in Adapted Physical Education

1987 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 257-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allen W. Burton
Keyword(s):  
Physical Education ◽  
Adapted Physical Education ◽  
Ecological Approach ◽  
Physical Educators ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Conceptual Foundation ◽  
Remedial Programs ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Adapted Physical Educators

The possibility that movement problems experienced by children may be at least partially accounted for by perceptual deficits needs to be considered by adapted physical educators. The ecological approach to perception, emphasizing the person-environment relationship, provides a useful conceptual foundation for defining perceptual deficits in relation to movement, for assessing perceptual deficits, and for designing and implementing remedial programs. A starting point for acknowledging the interaction of perception and movement in adapted physical education programs might be to strive to include activities that are purposeful in nature whenever possible. The next step, for students who may be suspected of having perceptual deficits, might be to help the children become better attuned to the affordances in their environment.

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