Lifetime Physical FitnessLifetime Physical Fitness

For students with mental disabilities

Important benefits:Important benefits:

Social

Academic

Health

Students with challenges have the same fitness needs and capacities as their peers without disabilities.

What needs to be done?What needs to be done?-Outside the classroom--Outside the classroom-

Stop exempting students from physical education. Advocate (school level and district level) to prevent this.– Prevents students from learning lifelong

behaviors consistent with national standards set by NASPE

– Teaches students that their differences mean that physical activity is not for them

Utilize the IEP process and CSO’s to address the needs of an exceptional student.

Standard 1: Movement Forms (PE.S.1)Students will demonstrate competency in many movement forms and proficiency in a few movement forms.Standard 2: Development of Motor Skills (PE.S.2)Students will apply concepts and principles of human movement to the development of motor skills and learning of new skills.Standard 3: Physical Activity (PE.S.3)Students will exhibit a physically active lifestyle that provides the opportunity for enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and social interaction.Standard 4: Physical Fitness (PE.S.4)Students will apply physical fitness concepts to achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical fitness.Standard 5: Responsible Personal and Social Behavior (PE.S.5)Students will demonstrate an understanding of responsible personal and social behaviors in physical activity settings.

-Inside the classroom--Inside the classroom-

Expose students at an early age to a variety of physical and recreational activity choices.

Provide more resources and training to teachers with students that are challenged.

-At home--At home-

Involving the family:– See what resources

family has

– Consider role of sibling interests and influence on your student

Summing it all upSumming it all up

Physical activity assists the exceptional student in:– Gaining self confidence– Enhancing health– Gaining life skills– Learning social skills

Information obtained from:Information obtained from:

Ayvazoglu, Nalan R., Thomas Ratliffe, and Francis M. Kozub. (2004, November/December). Encouraging lifetime physical fitness. Teaching Exceptional Children, 37 (2), 16-20. Retrieved June 7, 2005 from the World Wide Web: http://libproxy.shepherd.edu.