P.E. MODIFICATIONS
Let’s play!
GYM ACTIVITIES
ENCOURAGE:
Motor skill development
Healthy lifestyle
Awareness of the body
Ability to participate in leisure
activities, games and sports
Self confidence
INCLUSION
Allowing all students, whether
disabled or not, to participate
in a regular education
program in a regular
classroom setting
So, how do we do that?
Join in relays races…
UNDERSTANDING THE
PHYSICAL
It is important to know and understand
the implications of your student’s
diagnosis, before we can go ahead with
a plan
For example what are the implications of:
cortical visual impairment
Spastic movement
Low muscle tone
Hearing loss
Etc.
When including my student in a gym activity?
PARTICIPATION
HOW WILL MY STUDENT
PARTICIPATE?
PARTICIPATION
FULL PARTICIPATION
No modifications necessary
FULL PARTICIAPATION
Everyone is participating in the
same activity with no
modifications, swimming could
be a good example for our
students
PARTICIPATION
ADAPTED
Equipment
Rules
Distances
Complexity
Adapted Square Dancing
ADAPTED PARTICIPATION
Equipment
For example making a hockey
stick longer or shorter
Adapting the height of the
basketball net
Other thoughts???
ADAPTED PARTICIAPTION
Rules
Change the rules e.g shorten the
length of the running field
The number of players could be
adapted
Other thoughts???
ADAPTED PARTICIPATION
Distances
Shorten or lengthen the distance
of the field, running space etc.
ADAPTED PARTICIPATIOIN
Complexity
Reduce the rules
Changes the rules of
engagement, e.g. hit the puck
from every area on the hockey
or soccer floor
Thoughts???
PARTICIPATION
PARALLEL
Student involved but focused on
own skills
PARALLEL PARTICIPATION
For example:
Your student can be working on
his/her own exercise routine at
the side of the gym while the
class is involved in their gym
program
Working on the side lines…
Stetching over the ball…
PARTICIPATION
SUPPORTIVE
Student does not participate
directly, but is providing a service
to others
SUPPORTIVE PARTICIPATION
For example your student could :
Work on their hand skills and
giving out the equipment
Work on their switch skills and
be the time keeper or give the
rules
Other thoughts ???
Weight Room Modifications
WHAT ELSE?
For our students to be
interested in physical activity
we need to take into
consideration your students:
Skills and
Motivators
SKILLS
Gym activities are an excellent
way for your student to
develop some of their skills in a
fun and functional way
Using 2 hands to pull…
SKILLS
Some skills that could be included
in your student’s gym activities
include:
Movement activities (wheelchair,
walking, transfers, mat activities)
Fine motor skills (e.g. holding a rope)
Using his/her voice output
Practicing walker skills…
SKILLS
Using the switch (e.g. timing the game)
Sensory development (e.g. vestibular
in movement, tactile experiences,
holding onto objects etc.)
Learning about their environment
(orientation to the school, gym space
etc.)
Learning to follow directions
Etc.
MOTIVATORS
For any student to participate
in an activity, they must be
MOTIVATED by the activity in
order want to join in.
MOTIVATORS
What motivates your student?
She loves to kick this ball!
WHAT TO DO!
As a helper, you need to be
able to:
Take the gym activity
Understand your student’s
abilities
Take into consideration your
student’s skills
Consider your student’s
motivators
WHAT TO DO!
Consider the class dynamics
Decide on your student’s level
of participation in the activity
Think about how to adapt the
activity to suit everyone’s
needs.
Parachute games anyone?
LET’S USE HOCKEY AS AN
EXAMPLE
Some ideas might include:
Adjusting the length of the
hockey stick
Attaching the hockey stick to
a wheelchair
Using a different and larger
type of puck
Hockey stick duck taped.
HOCKEY EXAMPLE
Changing the rules of engagement
(e.g. your student hits the puck at
the beginning of the game; at the
net etc.)
Having your student time the game
and keep the score
Playing floor hockey instead of ice
hockey
HOCKEY EXAMPLE
Having another student push
your student’s wheelchair
Playing hockey one on one or
in pairs
Making the play area smaller
Other ideas?
WHAT ELSE ?
How else can your student be
involved in a gym activity?
Using the switch to give directions
Using the switch to time the
timekeeper
Using a switch to help choose the
team members
Other ideas????
REMEMBER……
Our students rely on us to provide
opportunities for them to be
involved in gym and leisure
activities, we are limited only by our
imagination and creativity in how
we adapt a program to suit our
students (and their classmates)
needs…..
GOOD LUCK……
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