A SPECTRUM OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS
Robbin Keating, Vision Rehabilitation Therapist
Justin A. Haegele, Adapted Physical Education Teacher
Why is Physical Activity Important? Physical activity is part of the Expanded
Core Curriculum. It is intertwined with sports & recreation.
What are the affects of removing physical activity out of a students’ regular routine?
Why is Physical Activity Important? The benefits of physical activity for
children includes each of the following: Control Weight Gain (Avoid Obesity) Reducing Blood Pressure Raising HDL (Good) Cholesterol Improved Psychological Well Being Improved Self-Esteem & Self-Confidence
(Information retrieved from the CDC)
Why is Physical Activity Important? Michelle Obama recently created a
national movement toward increasing physical activity for children across the U.S.A.
If the obesity epidemic is large enough to garner the attention of the 1st lady, it has become a serious national issue.
www.letsmove.gov
The impact of vision on participation Participation vs. Achievement Every student can participate on some
level. The participation can vary from an active participant to an easy “get by” accommodation.
Achievement is going beyond participation. It includes understanding concepts, developing skills and engaging in the sport activity.
Adapted physical activities for children with vision
impairments
Track & Field
Goalball
Ropes Course
Adapted Physical Education activities
Yoga
Beep baseball
Strategies for teaching physical activities Recognize that physical education is a
valuable part of the Expanded Core Curriculum It incorporates orientation & mobility, self-
determination & social skills, etc. Remember the PE teacher when doing in-
services and vision impairment education outreach! Providing specific information on strategies for
teaching physical activity related concepts.
Strategies for the PE team cont… Specific strategies that PE teams need:
Task analysis Directionality/orientation Body placement/muscle memory Connection of skills to application
Working with the paraprofessional Does the para understand how to teach
concepts that are related to physical activity? Does the para understand the vision
accommodations?
Strategies for Adapting Activities Differentiate Implements
Change size, color, texture of ball or target. Modifying Activities
Change activities from “open” to “closed”. Use of Audio Devices
A carefully throughout placement of audio devices in field of play enhance a students ability.
Choosing the best activity for your students
When children are young, most parents will push their children into sports such as T-ball (baseball), soccer or football….
WHY?
Choosing the best activity for your students
Most children who play T-ball, soccer or football as a child DO NOT continue after youth sports.
Choosing “lifetime activities” for children with vision impairments is a far more long term solution to their physical activity needs.
What are lifelong activities?
Activities that people can play throughout their life, from a young age until old age.
Choosing lifelong activities will facilitate physical activity and health throughout a lifetime.
What are lifelong activities?
Examples include: Swimming Golf Bowling Track & Field (running) Any others?
Sports Designed Specifically for
People Visual Impairments • Beep Baseball• Goalball • Tandem Biking• Showdown• Aquatics*• Wrestling*• Track & Field*• Soccer*
Beep Baseball
Beep Baseball is a modified version of traditional baseball.
Key differences include: 2 bases instead of three Each base is a large, cylinder shaped mat with a sound device Ball is also audio 6 fielders instead of 9 Beep Baseball Tutorial
Goalball
Goalball is a Paralympic Sport for athletes who have vision impairments or are blind. Fast paced invasion sport. Characteristics
Teams of 3 per side. Court is approximately the same size as a
volleyball court, with tactile boundaries. Offensive players try to roll a ball past the
other team into a large goal. Defensive players stretch their bodies to stop
the ball from passing their team.
Tandem Biking
Another Paralympics event. Sighted pilots ride with non sighted
stokers. Teaching progression
Begin with bicycle maintenance and safety. Riding on flat ground or track. Move to off road riding, mountain biking, or
racing. Generalize into outside of school
environment.
Showdown
Showdown is another high paced sport for people with visual impairments or that are blind.
Combines skills of table tennis and knock hockey.
Sport is new and catching on quickly throughout the country.
Aquatics and Wrestling
Both activities are easily modified for people with visual impairments or that are blind.
Students can participate in interscholastic sports since rules are not modified significantly in either sport.
Swimming is considered a life-long activity, and is something people can do to stay fit from birth until old age.
Track & Field
Different track and field events have different modifications for people with visual impairments of that are blind.
Running, in particular, has several different options for running with a student.
Running, like swimming, is considered a lifelong activity.
Track & Field Guide Wire
Wire next to student guidesthem throughout run.
TetherLeader holds one end of a tether while student runs in sequence.
ShadowingLeast restrictive, leader runs next to
student with no physical support; verbalizes important information
Track & Field
Guide wires are most restrictive, shadowing is least restrictive.
Guide wires are not easily generalized to everyday life due to the unavailability in the public.
Tethers, on the other hand, can be a piece of rope or bandana and is easily transferable.
Tether Demonstration
Soccer
Soccer skills can be developed in circuits and then applied in a game with accommodations.
Creating a physical activity program
in your schools Two types of programs highlighted in
this presentation: Sport Education Program Disability Awareness Program
Sport Education
The sport education model is a physical education teaching model which can use sport designed specifically for people with visually impairments or blindness.
The concept behind sport ed. is to teach the entire sport/activity from each perspective (i.e. player, ref, score keeper) and allow students to fill each role.
Sport Education
• Disability sport can be intertwined into sport ed. in two ways.– It can be the main sport taught, and all
students can take turns moving throughout the different roles of the activity.
– The disability sport can be used as an extension in a unit, providing a new experience for the students in the class and allowing them to participate in something similar, yet disability modified (i.e. infusing Beep Baseball into a baseball or softball unit).
Disability Awareness Units
• A disability awareness unit in a P.E. class involves introducing different sports which are modified specifically for disabilities.
• A disability awareness unit may include elements of the aforementioned sport education unit.
• Teachers will teach their students a variety of different activities which have been modified for people with disabilities.
Disability Awareness Units
• The benefits of disability awareness units include:– Typically developing students learn challenges
which are overcome daily by children with disabilities.
– Typically developing students learn sports which are regularly participated in by children with disabilities.
– Children with disabilities have a broader selection of friends or classmates that are knowledgeable about the sports or activities they participated in, providing more people to participate with.
Collaborating with Paraprofessionals in Physical Activities A few tips for working with
Paraprofessionals in the physical activity environments. Communicate students needs Keep appropriate distance from students DO NOT participate for students P.E./P.A. does NOT equal coffee break.
Collaborating with Paraprofessionals in Physical Activities Communicate student needs
In most cases, “paras” know what the needs of more than anyone else in the school.
Paraprofessionals most feel free to speak about needs without reprimand from teachers.
Keep appropriate distance from students There is a fine line between being too close
to a student during activities and not close enough.
Paraprofessionals must understand how to be helpful, but not overbearing with students.
Collaborating with Paraprofessionals in Physical Activities DO NOT participate for students
Similar to the previous point, paraprofessionals must allow students to participate how they can.
If students do not participate, they cannot learn.
P.E./P.A. does NOT equal coffee break The biggest complaint among P.E. or A.P.E.
teachers. Paraprofessionals MUST participate in P.A., it’s
the law!
Creating and implementing your own physical activity programs
outside of school
Camp Abilities Model
Camp abilities is a one-week developmental sport camp for children with visual impairments, including deaf-blindness.
Camp Abilities was founded in Brockport, NY by Dr. Lauren Lieberman in 1996, there are now (at least) 13 more programs.
Other locations include CT, AK, PA, MD, FL, TX, CA, PR, Costa Rica and Ireland.
Camp Abilities Model
Camp Abilities has several activities that are fixtures are each camps, including Beep baseball, goalball, and track and field.
Other activities are related to the location of the camp. (i.e. high ropes in CT, hiking in AK)
For more information please visit www.campabilities.org
Camp Abilities CT
Camp Abilities Connecticut was initiated by Robbin Keating in 2010.
Camp Abilities 2011 has 45 student athletes, 10 CITs and volunteer staff.
The CIT model Camp Abilities Junior College recruit & PE outreach www.campabilitiesct.org
Sports Adventure Weekend Series The Sports Adventure Weekend Series
was designed to keep sports and recreation opportunities throughout the school year.
SAW programs also focus on: Physical education class skill development Health & physical activity development Team building/leadership Social opportunities and community
Sports Adventure Weekend
SIBS Weekend
Sports Interactions Between Siblings (SIBS)
Sports-based program that includes the family
Special modules on issues relating to vision impairment, sibling communication and accommodations were also included.
In Motion Sports & Recreation Programs for Children with Vision
Impairments The purpose of this workshop is to
provide information on how youth with vision impairments can participate and prepare to be successful on a wrestling team.
Workshop Topics: basic technical moves and holds information on the rules and regulations with the sport an understanding and working toward spatial awareness
and body position proper procedures of wrestling matches Information on nutrition and healthy eating Conditioning & physical fitness
Robbin Keating
Robbin’s blog on the Expanded Core Curriculum:
the independent little bee: a little something for children with vision impairments & their
families
www.adifferentkindofvision.blogspot.com Vision Rehabilitation Therapist & Educational
Projects Coordinator for the Bureau of Rehabilitative Services (Services for the Blind) in Connecticut.
Justin A. Haegele
Nationally Certified Adapted Physical Education Teacher
AAPAR credentialed A.P.E. workshop presenter 2 peer reviewed articles published, 1 text chpt
in review, 1 peer reviewed article in review. National, Regional, State, Local, and District
wide presentations. A.P.E. consultant Areas of expertise in A.P.E. for children with
V.I. and Autism
Greg Schultz
Greg Schultz is a physical education teacher in Buffalo, New York.
Graduate of The College at Brockport State University, where he is currently working on his masters in adapted physical education.
Greg has been involved in Camp Abilities since 2008. He has taught wrestling at Sports Adventure Weekend and SIBS Weekend in Connecticut this year.
For more information on IN MOTION recreation programs, [email protected]