1. For more information
on what you have read
in this brochure please
visit these websites
Physical
Education
For All: How
to Include
Students
With
Disabilities
In Your P.E.
Class
Written by Olivia Herrock
How is this
brochure going to
help me as a
teacher?
The point of this brochure is to
help educate physical education
teachers on how to incorporate
children with disabilities into
their lesson plans. In this
brochure you can find
suggestions for activities and
how to modify activities to
include students with disabilities.
http://personnelcenter.org
http://projects.fpg.unc.edu
http://www.pecentral.org
http://usagym.org
http://www2.ed.gov
http://www.apens.org
http://www.pecentral.org
Why is inclusion
important?
Inclusion in the least restrictive
environment is important for
students with special needs
because the students need to be
involved in physical activity as a
part of their education. Students
with disabilities can gain many
important qualities through
physical education like leadership
skills, teamwork, and more.
http://www.pecentral.org/adap
ted/adaptedactivities.html

2. The Rehabilitation
Act of 1973 Section
504 & IDEA 2004
Communication Rules
Suggestions for Adapting Activities
There are many different ways to adapt
activities for students with special
needs. Here are a few options:
Suggestions for Modifying Specific
Sports/Activities
•
For Equipment modifications:
Larger or lighter bats
•
•
Use Velcro
•
Soccer
Walk instead of running
Reduce the playing area
Use a target that makes a
noise when hit for visually
impaired players
Communication can be a
barrier for some students
with special needs. Here
are a few helpful tips for
better communication.
•
Lower goals or targets
For Boundaries or Playing Fields
•
•
•
Make sure boundaries are well
defined
Make playing area smaller
For Rules and Instruction
•
Modify Time limits
•
Use peer partners to help explain
the rules
•
Remove outs from the game
•
Use hand signals and verbal cues
•
Demonstrations or one-on-one
instruction
•
Basketball
Allow two hand dribbling
Allow traveling
Use a lower goal
Use different size balls
Volleyball
Use a lighter ball
Lower the net
Stand closer to the net on
serves
Reduce the playing court
•
•
•
•
•
Don’t shout at
people with
vision
impairments.
Give all of your
attention when
speaking with a
student
Speak clearly and
slowly to
students with
hearing
impairments
Give one
direction at a
time
Use visual aids to
help with
instructions
Be Patient
Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973
states that no otherwise
qualified person with a
disability, be excluded from
participation in, be denied
the benefits of, or be
subjected to discrimination
under any program or
activity receiving federal
financial assistance.
The Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA) is a law ensuring
services to children with
disabilities throughout the
nation. IDEA governs how
states and public agencies
provide early intervention,
special education and related
services to more than 6.5
million eligible infants,
toddlers, children and youth
with disabilities.