If you're an Adapted PE teacher like me, you've probably experienced someone who looks dumbfounded when you say you teach APE, and you've laughed politely too many times at the question that follows about whether you actually teach monkeys or not. But if you aren't an APE teacher, and perhaps you found yourself here because you were searching on how to actually teach monkeys, here is a run down of what APE is.
First of all, if you are looking for information on how to teach a primate.... this is the wrong page. But stay anyways!
So umm, what is APE?
Adapted Physical Education is simply physical education that has been adapted or modified to allow a person with a disability to participate successfully and to enjoy PE as other individuals would. It provides students with the opportunity to access the general PE curriculum, and does so in a manner that focuses specifically on their individual needs, interests, and areas of strength.
APE is not a cookie cutter program- it takes the needs and ability of each student into account and APE teachers work with school personnel to determine the right level of service. Not all students with a disability need or qualify for APE services. But APE is important to help those who do. Studies show that students with disabilities are far less likely to be physically active than students without disabilities. APE helps students build upon their own strengths, interests and abilities in order to develop skills to help them lead healthy and active lifestyles.
So are you a gym teacher? What does an APE teacher do?
Yes, and more. APE teachers wear many hats, or at least I do!
On any given day I will be:
- supporting students in their inclusion general PE classes
- teaching my own inclusion classes for students of all ability levels
- teaching substantially separate APE classes for students who require them
- working 1:1 with a student to focus on gross motor skill development
- attending IEP meetings
- conducting observations & evaluations for both new referrals and students going through re-evals
- meeting & consulting with teachers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, vision specialists, parents, and school administrators
- preparing reports to document progress.
Whew, that's a mouthful. See what I mean about many hats? I think we need a bigger hatrack!
Do all districts have APE?
Unfortunately, no. IDEA requires PE services, and national laws state that all students with disabilities must be given the same access to PE as students without disabilities. For districts without APE, this often looks like integration of students with disabilities who may not be engaged due to difficulty accessing the curriculum. Fortunately, APE has been gaining popularity over the last decade, with many school districts beginning to see the benefit of having APE teachers to help students successfully participate in PE and develop skills with will promote a healthy life in the long term.
There are many districts that have amazing APE programs however, with a whole team of teachers on board. I plan on highlighting some of these great forward-thinking districts here in the future.
Where can I learn more about APE?
For more information, check out the Adapted Physical Education National Standards website to learn about qualifications, types of service, and certifications.
Hope you enjoyed learning a little more about what APE is!
