Fall is the time when students are going back to school. Many will not only be going back to academic programs, but school athletic programs as well. Unfortunately for students with disabilities, athletic and sports programs are often limited.

The purpose of the adapted section this month is to provide readers with information about disability sport opportunities that students can participate in when they do not have athletic programs available at their school.

The disability sport opportunities listed in this section are not exhaustive, and provide just a glimpse into what is available. These links provide an excellent base of ideas for adapted physical education teachers, adapted physical activity professors, and parents and kids with disabilities to see how they might get involved in disability sports in their local area.

If the opportunities described here do not fit your specific needs, feel free to contact any of the listed organizations for more information on disability sports in your area.

Brent Hardin
Adapted PE Editor

American Association of Adapted Sports - The American Association of Adapted Sports Programs is a Georgia based nonprofit organization that builds interscholastic sports leagues for students with physical disabilities or visual impairments in grades one through 12, comparable to programs commonly available only to students without disabilities. AAASP is currently working to expand this school based program to other states.

AAASP offers competitive athletics opportunities for students with disabilities in beep baseball, power soccer, wheelchair basketball, track & field, wheelchair football, and power wheelchair hockey.

Contact AAASP for more information about the sports programs 404-294-0070 (sports@adaptedsports.org).

National Wheelchair Basketball Association - The National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) has information about over 50 junior wheelchair basketball teams in local communities all over the United States. Opportunities for participation are available for students from elementary to high school age in three divisions (prep, junior varsity and varsity).

The NWBA junior season will be kicking off this fall. Check the NWBA website to find a local team in your area. For any other questions about junior wheelchair basketball, please contact the NWBA junior commissioner Doug Garner at 501-655-6507 or DGarner728@aol.com.

BlazeSports of America - BlazeSports is a program of the U.S. Disabled Athletes Fund, the successor organization to the Atlanta Paralympic Organizing Committee. Sports offered by USDAF through the BlazeSports programs are: wheelchair tennis, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair racing, wheelchair rugby, swimming and field events. It is anticipated that as programs are formed in locations where winter sports are appropriate, these will be added. The programs serve youth who use wheelchairs, have an amputation, a visual impairment or a neuro-muscular disability such as cerebral palsy or spina bifida.

BlazeSports has over 40 local sports clubs across the United States. For more information on BlazeSports Clubs of America, visit the BlazeSports website or email blazesports@blazesport.com.

Wheelchair Sports USA - Wheelchair Sports USA offers national wheelchair sport opportunities in swimming, table tennis, weight lifting, archery, and track & field. For more information about a Wheelchair Sports USA programs in your area visit their website or email wsusa@aol.com.

Special Olympics - Special Olympics is an international organization dedicated to providing athletic opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics offers year-round localized training and competition in over 20 sports. There is no charge to participate in Special Olympics.

To find information about Special Olympic programs in your local area visit the Special Olympics website.

United States Association of Blind Athletes - The United States Association of Blind Athletes (USBA) offers competitive, world-class athletic opportunities for students who are blind or visually impaired. USBA provides athlete and coach identification and support, programs and event management, and national and international representation. USBA is committed to providing outlets for the athletic abilities of people who are blind and visually impaired.

USA Deaf Sports Federation - USA Deaf Sports Federation administers sporting events for students who are deaf and hard of hearing. The sports include aquatics, baseball, basketball, tennis, ice hockey, shooting, swimming, handball, soccer and much more.

Adaptive Sports Foundation - The Adaptive Sports Foundation offers both winter and summer sports to a wide range of special needs children. The mission of Adaptive Sports Foundation is to provide four season sports instruction and recreational activities for individuals with special needs that enhance the participant's self esteem and independence, and to provide training to those associated with the student that enables them all to independently enjoy the recreational environment. Find out more.

Adjust portions of these games as needed to accommodate anyone with disabilities in your classroom. These games can all be easily modified.

Cooperative Hoops (gr 2+)- To have students understand the concept of inclusion and that everyone belongs no matter the situation.

Buggy Rides (gr PreK) - To help Pre-K children learn to work together and use appropriate social skills.

Ditto - A Cooperative Game (gr 4-5): To develop cooperation skills.

Foam Ball Passover (gr 3-5) - To encourage students to work together to accomplish a common goal.

Frogs and Ants (gr 3-5) - This game is a cooperative game in which students have to help their fellow classmate in order for the game to continue.

Mine Field (gr 3-5) - To have students experience the loss of their sight and to develop feelings for those less fortunate than them.

Scootermania (K-2) - To help children understand how to work cooperatively with a partner.

Titanic Challenge (gr 3-5)- To foster positive cooperative/communication skills and strategy development.

The Bus (gr 3-5) - Purpose of Activity: To help students cooperate when completing physical challenges.

Sneak Attack - To encourage cooperation and use of offensive and defensive strategies.

Using Adapted Aquatics Equipment to Facilitate Aquatic Skills by Students with Disabilities
- donated by Christ Stopka, pelinks4u March 2003

With appropriate supervision, affordable adapted aquatics equipment can be used to facilitate student learning of specific aquatics skills, as well as those helpful for improving their activities of daily living.

For Example, the forward overhand arm motion needed to throw a ball for an aquatics target game is similar to the arm motion needed for the crawl/freestyle stroke. Also, the buoyancy and resistance of just the water itself can facilitate the skill of walking to help students walk more independently on land.

Blowing games, such as blowing colorful ping-pong balls across the water's surface, facilitate crucial aquatics breath control skills. Underwater breath-holding skills are enhanced by practice, and students are especially motivated to do so by offering them enticing toys to reach for that have sunk to the pool bottom.

These equipment ideas are as exciting as they are easy and effective. Learning potentials can be maximized with the use of affordable equipment ideas; all while everyone involved is having lots of fun. The following list details more examples of these techniques.

Water entry/exit skills can be made easier when there is no shallow end by simply placing a table against the wall of the pool, allowing for an area of the pool to become the shallow end.

Water exploration/breath control skills can be worked on using ping-pong balls to blow across the surface to teach exhalation. Weighted plastic eggs can be allowed to sink and be retrieved.

Gross motor balance skills, fitness in water. This can be worked on while walking in chest-deep water, which will provide support and balance without the fear. The faster one moves their body in the water, the more resistance that is created.

Floating skills and changing positions in the water. With the use of kickboards and kick sticks, these skills can be taught. Providing a pool full of enticing toys will make it easier to get the kids to try new things in the water.

Rescue skills can be taught by holding on to one end of the kick stick and reaching the other end out to the distressed swimmer.

Finding the Needed Resources to Establish or Enhance Your Program
By: Christine Stopka (Professor), Sharon Barak, and Hee Sun Jun (graduate students in exercise therapy & adapted physical education); University of Florida, pelinks4u November 2003

Clearly it can be quite challenging to try to establish a new program, or improve upon an existing one, when sufficient funds, personnel, equipment, facilities, transportation, and publicity are lacking. Therefore the following information is being presented to offer suggestions when addressing these needs. Hopefully, at least a few in each category can be used, or adapted, to assist virtually anyone in any school based, recreational, or similar settings.

The reader is urged to secure any needed permissions before adopting these ideas. (note: The categories of funding and equipment will be covered in part one. Part two will cover the categories of equipment and facilities. Part Three will cover transportation, publicity and additional resources for help).

SECURING NEEDED FUNDS

Student fund raising - with guidance and permission, students can run raffles, car washes, bake sales, candy sales, sell peanuts, popcorn, wrapping paper, tee-shirts, and more. Selling coupons for discounts at various businesses such as pizza coupons, department store coupons, and more, is becoming a popular way to secure funds while assisting local businesses, and still offering the customer a good deal.

Students can help with recycling of items such as aluminum cans, as well as plastic or glass bottles. Recycling centers usually pay money by weight of the recycled product. Students can put on fund raising races and carnivals, which, after some experience, can be quite lucrative.

Corporate Sponsors - The business mentioned above that offer the coupons may be just the ones to approach to serve as corporate sponsors for your school, club, or organization.

Parent Organizations - Active PTAs and PTOs can provide invaluable financial support to academics, athletics, and the arts at their respective schools. Specific parental run Boosters organizations are established to support a specific need (such as sport boosters clubs, band boosters, and more).

Community Organizations – Philanthropic, community organizations such as the Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, Lions Club, the Shriners, various Women's Clubs, as well as the local Elk or Moose Clubs exist to help individuals in need, especially children. Boards of Directors of local YMCAs and Girls and Boys Clubs function to raise money for their programs.

Grant writing - although often frustrating, once the appropriate funding source is identified for the program in need, this avenue can be quite rewarding. Although state and national grant applications are encouraged, often the local community is the best place to start. The district, and even school, may have mini-grants worth looking into. Local grocery stores have foundations dedicated to supporting their local community; a brief letter-type proposal may often result in a gift of several thousand dollars, many of which are given on a yearly basis!

SECURING NEEDED PERSONNEL

Local colleges and universities are loaded with students appreciating the opportunity to volunteer or perform required, clinical, practical, or internship hours.

High school students from your own high school setting (or your local high school if you are not at a high school setting) would appreciate the opportunity to help your program as a function of their service club, or for individual volunteer hours.

Peer tutors - this source of personnel is a particularly invaluable one. The "tutors" are right there at your site or school. The one-on-one assistance is extremely helpful for the child being helped, and the experience is often life-changing for the tutor as they learn how important they can be in enhancing another person's life.

Senior citizens - many communities have quite a resource in this regard. Many senior citizens are quite experienced, capable, and willing to help in any way they can. In turn, it helps them enjoy a reason for living, which results in an increased quality, and often duration, of life for them.

Parents - some parents are free and willing to help, and can be available by simply asking for their assistance.

Community organizations - both youth-based ,such as scouts and religious youth groups, as well as adult-based philanthropic organizations (mentioned in the funding section above) can all be of incredible help, even for special events like field days, games and sports for children with disabilities, and much more.

Finding the Needed Resources to Establish or Enhance Your Program
By: Christine Stopka (Professor), Sharon Barak, and Hee Sun Jun (graduate students in exercise therapy & adapted physical education); University of Florida, pelinks4u July 2004

note: There were supposed to be 3 parts to this article, and I was not able to find part 2 in the archives. Parts 1 and 3 are good information and worth recycling.

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation problems can often be the principal cause for a program's demise. However, with a little creativity and persistence these challenges can be overcome.

Federal Laws - Sometimes the need to provide a special program can be tied to federal laws, thus opening up a funding source for your program. For example, students' ITPs (Individual Transition Plans) may call for your students (aged 13-22) to engage in inclusive physical education settings with similar aged peers. Bus trips, twice per week, to the local university for these secondary level students to participate in a physical education program with local university students can be justified.

IDEA content areas of physical and motor fitness, aquatics, and lifetime sports and games can all be carried out in this inclusive setting. As an example, the University of Florida has had such a joint program operating every year since 1988; many colleges and universities have similar programs. Since these types of programs and content areas are mandated, monies from district and state coffers are often available to supplement or replace monies that would have had to otherwise come from the school itself.

Corporate partnerships - Sometimes local businesses can help come up with bus fees, or perhaps donate a new or used van or bus for the transportation needs. This is a fairly common practice with local YMCAs and Boys and Girls' Clubs. Many schools, especially those with students with special needs, could benefit enormously from an individual or business that could afford this philanthropic gesture.

Parent/retiree/volunteer drivers - Sometimes a vehicle is available, but qualified drivers are in short supply. Communicate to parents, retirees, senior citizens, part-time university students, and other volunteers (with enough available time) that this is a need. Help them register for the appropriate drivers' license testing, and any other needed training to become certified and eligible to help out.

Fund raising - This is talked about in the previous column. Funds can be raised in a variety of ways. Some of these funds can go toward transportation costs and fees.

Walking - Sometimes the target facility is within walking distance. In this case, volunteers would be needed to help push wheelchairs and provide enough supervision for safety, but the walk to the local park, etc., is an excellent way to gain more fitness, learn to safely cross streets, enjoy relaxed conversation and social interaction, and more.

Publicity - Obtaining enough quality publicity for your program is essential. The community becomes aware of the importance of your program, and potential donors become aware of the financial needs. Fund raising, personnel assistance, equipment, facilities, and transportation needs can all be enhanced with good publicity. The following is a list of avenues to consider to assist in this regard.

	newspaper stories and newspaper ads for assistance
	radio and T.V. coverage, as well as public service ads for assistance
	program newsletters
	recorded messages to update callers on program news and inform them of current needs
	Internet support - an updated website can let folks know what's happening, and also what is needed in the form of funds, personnel, equipment, facilities, transportation costs, and more.
	Kiosks, bulletin boards, and other legal advertisement surfaces to communicate program events and needs.

Resources for Assistance - Acknowledge that if your program is run for a good cause, you are never alone. People want to help; they just need to know a need exists.

In addition to consulting books, articles, and the internet for methods in which similar programs secure the resources they need to operate, remember to communicate these needs clearly to multiple organizations, all of whom can become invaluable resources for your program. Some examples of such organizations are:

-local businesses
-local colleges and universities
-local, or school based, service organizations
-local retirees and other volunteers.

Misunderstood Minds - In support of a PBS documentary, the Misunderstood Minds' Web site contains profiles of the students in the documentary, as well as sections on attention, reading, writing, and mathematics. The best part of this website is the interactive feature entitled Firsthand that provides a sense of what it may be like for a student struggling with a learning disability.

Useless Eaters: Disability as Genocidal Marker in Nazi Germany - The methods used for mass extermination in the Nazi death camps originated and were perfected in earlier use against people with physical, emotional, and intellectual disabilities.

Developed from the article by Dr. Mark Mostert, this website describes the historical context of attitudes toward people with disabilities in Germany, and how this context produced mass murder of people with disabilities prior to, and during the early years of World War II.

Major sections are Historical Underpinnings, Genocidal Markers, and Implications for Today. Take some time to explore as there is much to be found within each section. Sound can be turned off using menu on top left. Full text of the article also available for download (pdf). Requires Flash.

Discriminating Issues - Examining How U.S. Law Defines Discrimination. In this lesson, students will research the issues surrounding a variety of types of discrimination, and then write editorials analyzing legal and social positions on discrimination in the United States.

Racing for Equality - In this lesson, students closely examine the Americans with Disabilities Act and the rights that it grants to disabled Americans. Students then apply this legislation to a discrimination lawsuit filed by wheelchair athletes against the organization that runs the New York marathon.

Gazing Into the Faces of AIDS - In this lesson, students consider whether or not there are generalizations that can be made about people who are infected with H.I.V. or who have the AIDS virus. They then create public service ad campaigns educating specific segments of the population about the disease. Finally, students consider what else can be done within their community to combat this epidemic.

Skating on Thin Ice - In this lesson, students research various eating disorders and their treatments. They then create fictional case studies of teenagers suffering from these disorders, and synthesize their understanding by writing suggestions for treatment