According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act every child between the age of three years old up to 21 years old must engage in some type of physical education if they are to qualify for any type of special education program. This requirement can be difficult for physical education instructors to figure out a lesson plan that not only gives the other children the activities that they need but also involve the needs of the special education child.
Children who are in the special education program are often physically and mentally delayed so that they are not at the same level for physical education as the other children that are around them. That makes creating a classroom plan for physical education tough.
Here is a look at some of the things a P.E. instructor can do to make sure that the needs of the classroom are met while also involving the special needs child.
Talk with the Parents of the Child. Often times having a small meeting with the parents of the special needs child can help you develop a course of action for the physical education class. This can involve asking the parents about what the child can and cannot do, what activities the child does at home and even how best to interact with the child. This small meeting will allow you to figure out some plan of action when it comes to a lesson plan in P.E.
Involve Activities that Can Involve the Child. Try to make as many activities that can involve both the child with special needs and the rest of the class. This will allow the student to have some self respect while the rest of the class is able to enjoy the activities that are being presenting. It works all around for all children signed up for the P.E. class.