| Author |
Message |
donnaberry
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 1:34 pm: |       |
Any practical ideas for teching P.E to children with autism?
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Steve Jefferies (Admin)
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 32
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 25, 2005 - 2:18 pm: | |
This is the featured 'Adapted' question for March.
A question has been posted, asking for ideas on teaching physical education to children with autism. Are you a teacher, or physical educator, who teaches physical education/activities to children with autism? Please share your experience here.
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chydrick
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 08, 2005 - 8:40 am: | |
Currently, I have around 20 students with diagnosed ASD, ranging from K-12 and mild to severe. All our included into physical education with their regular ed peers. For the younger student, use of schedules on a belt loop helps greatly, where they can flip a card or move a pec symbol as certain phases of the class are completed. For the middle and high school student peer assistance has been the key rather than para educators. Students pick them up at their classroom, assist them in dressing out and by them in exercise squads etc. For the most severe being in the middle of a game with lots of movement around them is the best that can happen at the secondary level total inclusion works with guidance from books by Martin Block etc. Activities can be modified to participation level, even Archery. Every child is a different situation and finding the right piece is why we are in this field. So fun. |
Kerry Evans
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 8:01 pm: | |
Put the autistic students in a pool. You would be amazed at the progress that can be made in an instructional swim lesson as well as in aerobics when done in the water. The autistic students focus; imitate and follow what is expected from them in the class. I have had classes of autistic students stay with the class for over 50 minutes and each all know what is expected of themselves. |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 12:00 pm: | |
Kids with autism will often respond to visual prompts. We have a folder filled with pictures of all different physical activities we cover during our APE classes. The pictures are velcroed onto a strip and handed to the autistic students. They will peel off the picture of that activity they choose to do. This seems to help them to feel independent because they have a choice, plus it shows them what they are going to do. We've had huge success doing this with a student we were not able to reach earlier.
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Nancy Kelley-
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 5:58 pm: | |
I have had the pleasure of working with autistic children for over 15 years. There has been so much progress made in how we teach these children. Here in North Carolina we have a lot of support with the TEACH program out of Chapel Hill. I'm sorry I don't have the web address. It all began for me with the introduction of schedules, cards with pictures for visual clues and lots of para professional support in self contained classes. We are moving to inclusion at earlier and earlier ages. This year I have a K student included for the first time. Even with a full schedule and a very crowded school, we try to have a self contained class as well as inclusion with regular p.e. classes. It helps us develop relationships with the children...hard to do in a one day a week program with regular ed kids let alone those with special needs like autism. The children need less an less support with the visual clues and are starting to respond to verbal and minimal visuals. Patience on our part is really the key. I find the children in the host classes make the effort to get these kids connected. I can ask specific ones to help out and be a buddy, but they all contribute, often in ways I don't think of, like picking them up at class, repeating a direction and gently guiding when needed. They are awesome. Experience helps, but even a begining teacher can be successful. Keep making the effort to find what clicks for these kids...you will be successful. I'd be happy to correspond with anyone who has questions.
(Message edited by admin on April 07, 2006) |
Erica Mack
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 21, 2005 - 9:34 am: | |
I worked with autism and I found that basically anything that involves their hands they will like and keep them occupied. Try not to talk or explain anythign for too long. Autism students eyes wonder everywhere. The pool os also great they get a good work out. |
Randi Perkins
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 1:16 pm: | |
I have been in special education for 20 years. Here are some general guidelines for this population. Reduce distractions and clearly define rec space. Employ task variation using 4-6 stations. Emphasize participation, not competition. Integrate strengths of student into lesson. When integration is not appropriate, design a parallel activity to take place in same area at the same time.I have also experimented with peer tutor dyads/tryads. It begins with sensitivity training for typical peers.I would suggest emloying the school psychologist in reference to the scope and depth of the training. You can choose a simple motor skill like throwing.The first dyad/tryad ( D/T) is the typical peer and the teacher. Essentially, the teacher teaches the typical peer how to properly sequence the skill. The 2nd D/T is the typical peer and the autistic student (unidirectional). The 3rd D/T is typical peer and autistic student ( reciprocal). The 4th D/T is the autistic child teaching an atypical peer ( unidirectional) . The 5th D/T is the autistic student with a typical same age peer. You have to experiment a little to find what methodology is the most advantageous. I have found whenever you can give these students a moment to shine, it really seems to raise their self-esteem and gives them opportunity to reciprocate in social environments. Good luck. |
Ann Griffin
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Thursday, November 17, 2005 - 8:12 am: | |
Check out a video tape from Championship Productions entitled Autism: Equipment Turn-ons for Adapted Physical Education. You will get lots of ideas for equipment that engages students "on the spectrum" and encourages peer interaction. The video features adapted pe programs for elementary and middle school students. I have also found this to be a very good resource for parents looking for ideas for physical and play activities at home. Go to www.championshipproductions.com, click on physical education, then click on adapted, and scroll down to Autism: Equipment turn ons...you can view a clip online |
Amanda Durrant
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 1:39 pm: | |
H, I run a gym and movement class for children with disabilities in Essex (England). I have more children with autism in the class than not.The class has come on incredibly well.We have main stream kids who come into the class to model behaviour.
Todays class went like this.........
*Start the class running in the same direction around the hall.Call stop then say stand tall and stretch.Continue running then call stop,say turn and run.Small variations but in general the same each week.
*Stand in a circle and stretch out. Almost the same exercises each week.
*Sit down, me in the middle,and roll a heavy bubble ball(full of water,half the size of a football,gives strong sensory feedback to child due to weight) to each child and encourage to roll ball back.
*Next use co operband(like an elastic hair scrunchie but big enough for 12 people!)all do the same,stand inside and lean back,then all walk clockwise then anticlockwise,then sit and rock back while holding the band.
*fix a ring to the middle of the band.Place a foam ball on the ring, every one move down the hall holding the band and flip the ball over a block, next time into a bucket.
*Place all the gym mats in a rectangular track.Each person has a turn to run around the track. Next time carry a baton and pass it on to the next person. Next time place an obstacle on the track such as a pole held by a cone at each side for the children to go over.Next time add a bench to step over.Next time add 3 hoops in a line to step through.Next time add another pole and cones at each side.
*Sit down and rub our own hands,feet,arms and knees.
I teach many skills by starting with the first move of the chain of events,then add each stage as I see the children cope with it, this might take weeks!
Good luck, and I hope you have as much fun as we did!
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Amanda Durrant
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Sunday, February 19, 2006 - 1:02 am: | |
Does any one know of any good sport/pe resources any where in the world for teachers/coaches who teach sport to children who have autism? please reply to me if you have........ |
Rebekah Maddox (Maddoxre)
Junior Member
Username: Maddoxre
Post Number: 6
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 9:42 am: | |
I have a student in my class that has autism and the students are always willing to help him out. He is at a lower ability than they are but it does not seem to bother them. I feel that if we are able to include them in the normal physical edcuation class then we should. |
Paula Summit (Summit5)
Moderator
Username: Summit5
Post Number: 66
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 11:23 am: | |
http://www.wroctv.com/news/story.asp?id=21810&r=l& voted=2
I am sure many of you have heard about the Greece Athena autistic senior who scored 20 points for his team in the last 4 minutes of the game. He is a very popular kid in the school...even before his hoops debut. |
Frank Grasmuck III (Frank853)
New member
Username: Frank853
Post Number: 1
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 02, 2006 - 6:47 pm: | |
I find that most students with autism love to be involved, even if they do not know how to perform the skill they are doing. If you give them a glove and a ball and practice catching or anything that keeps their hands and body busy they love it. |
Cale McConnell (Cmiggedymack)
Junior Member
Username: Cmiggedymack
Post Number: 5
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Monday, April 03, 2006 - 6:56 pm: | |
Yes I also believe that autism children are just happy to perform in an activity and to be physically active even if they can't be as good as some of the so called athletes in the class. They at least try and I think that is all that matters sometimes. But yes, Frank is right they do like to be active! |
Casey Slusser (Slus24)
Junior Member
Username: Slus24
Post Number: 3
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 5:28 am: | |
I have a few autistic students in my classes and I have found that they love to be active. I can give them anything they want to be active and they will love it. I have the advantage of being very close to them and my class is very small so I can do one on one instruction. I concentrate on the simplest activities ie jogging, sit ups, push ups, fitness activites plus a few skill based activites. Enjoy the time with them and they will love whatever it is you decide to do with them. |
Paul Maguire (Yuuyaraq)
Junior Member
Username: Yuuyaraq
Post Number: 2
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 17, 2006 - 11:43 am: | |
Data-Based Gym anyone? |
Elizabeth Davis (Edavis)
New member
Username: Edavis
Post Number: 1
Registered: 3-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 5:12 pm: | |
I have a class of 10 autism students at one time. Each of them does have an assisstant with them and this helps greatly. Currently I have received a grant and purchased some "Snoozlen" equipment. It focus's on all the senory and tactile things that these students have such trouble with. The snozzlen equipment is great if you "google" it there is tons of info and great lessons. I will agree with Casey though they love to be active and are happy with about anything. I find most of mine love to chase other students. |
Leslie Kramer (Lhk9912)
New member
Username: Lhk9912
Post Number: 1
Registered: 3-2008
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 - 9:02 am: | |
I have a 9 year old daughter who is autistic. Up until this year she disliked Physical Education class. This year she comes home and likes to demonstrate the moves she has learned in the gymnastics section. She is so proud of what she can do and she looks forward to Physical Education class now. I think that most autistic children love to be involved and it is up to us as teachers to find out what they like and will give them the drive to participate. Children with autism from what I have learned through my daughter is that they want to do what they like and enjoy. We need to make physical education class fun and keep them moving. I look forward to the day that I can work with children with autism in my class. |
Stacey Domer (Sld7530)
Junior Member
Username: Sld7530
Post Number: 4
Registered: 3-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, March 27, 2008 - 8:35 am: | |
In my adapted P.E. class we were told that short directions were best with autistic students. Things like Run Door would be better then saying Run to that door. Also a quick demonstration is better. This keeps their attention since their attention span is usually short. |
Casey Castelli (Ccastel3)
New member
Username: Ccastel3
Post Number: 1
Registered: 4-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, May 01, 2008 - 5:24 am: | |
I am a sophomore physical and health education major. I have not had any classes yet discussing students with exceptionalities, however this is a topic that I am very curious about. I am especially interested students who have autism, since it is becoming more common amongst students. I have heard from experienced teachers and read articles about how to best make a student with autism comfortable in a classroom, but not so much in a P.E. environment. I do realize that we now must consider IEP’s and things of that matter before anything else. However, if a student with autism can be with the class in P.E., what is the best way to make that student comfortable? Does it depend on the severity/preference of the student? |
