Modifying Physical Activities to Include Individuals with Disabilities: A Systematic Approach

Subsequently, if the student qualifies for special education services, the individualized education program (IEP) team develops goals and benchmarks and the services that will foster their achievement, and then the IEP team determines the student's placement. Regardless of the placement, supports, supplementary aids, and services, there is often an additional need for the service provider(s) (e.g., general physical educator, adapted physical educator, paraprofessional) to modify the learning environment or adapt the tasks in order for the student to be safe, successful, and challenged during physical education. A task analysis of It Rocks! suggests the activity promotes individual growth through crossing midline, muscular endurance, flexibility, eye-hand and eye-foot coordination, spatial awareness, balance, and stability, much like a traversing wall (Attarian, 1999; Hyder, 1999).