The Illinois Coalition for Adapted Physical Education (ICAPE) is an organization consisting of professionals who provide assistance to physical educators, adapted physical educators, principals, parents/guardians, or anyone else that may be teaching children with disabilities in a movement setting.

The Goal of ICAPE

The goal of this organization is to provide a link between individuals who currently have experience and/or expertise teaching children with disabilities and those teachers who may be inexperienced or looking for assistance.

What is Adapted Physical Education (APE)?

"Adapted physical education is the art and science of developing, implementing, and monitoring a carefully designed physical education instructional program for a learner with a disability based on a comprehensive assessment, to give the learner the skills necessary for a lifetime of rich leisure, recreation, and sport experiences to enhance physical fitness and wellness." (Auxter, Pyfer, & Huettig 2001, p.3.)

• Download the "Entry and Exit Criteria Guidelines" in pdf format.

What Type of Educational Setting is Appropriate for Each Student?

A variety of factors can contribute to the placing of a student in physical education, but it is recommended that each student be placed individually in the least restrictive environment in accordance with the continuum of services.

Who is Qualified to Make Placement Decisions and Provide Services in APE?

The National Consortium for Physical Education and Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities (1995) has defined standards, which a professional must know in order to be qualified to provide services in adapted physical education.

These standards include but are not limited to:

1. The Unique Attributes of the Learner
2. Curriculum and Assessment
3. Instructional Design and Planning
4. Consultation and Staff Development
5. Student and Program Evaluation

Why Adapted Physical Education Exists?

Adapted from position statement of the National Consortium for Physical Education and Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities (NCPERID):

 The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Public Law 105-17 (1997), mandates physical education as a required service for children & youth between the ages of 3 - 21 who qualify for special education services because of a specific disability or developmental delay. According to the federal mandate:

The term 'special education' means specially designed instruction at no cost to parents or guardians, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability, including -

•  Instruction conducted in the classroom

•  Instruction in physical education

Physical Education includes:

• Physical and motor fitness;
• Fundamental motor skills and patterns;
• Health related physical fitness;
• Motor fitness; and
• Skills in aquatics, dance, and individual and group games and sports.

Assessment and instruction by qualified personnel...

Means that professionals are prepared to gather assessment data and provide physical education instruction for children & youth with disabilities and developmental delays. The National Consortium for Physical Education and Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities has detailed APE National Standards, which describe what a qualified APE teacher must know. Teachers who have met these criteria are described as Certified Adapted Physical Educators ( CAPE 's).

Accurate assessment data...

Including diagnostic and curriculum-based data collected by qualified personnel.

Individualized Education Program (IEP) Goals and Objectives/Benchmarks...

are measurable and objective statements written by the physical education instructor. The goals and objectives are reflective of the physical education instructional content and monitored/evaluated according to district policy, to ensure that goals and objectives are being met in a timely manner.

Instruction in a Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)...

Refers to adapting or modifying the physical education curriculum and/or instruction to address the individualized abilities of each child. Adaptations are made to ensure that each student will experience success in a safe environment. Placement is outlined in the IEP and may include one or more of the following options:

• The general physical education setting
• The general physical education setting with a teaching assistant or peers
• A separate class setting with peers
• A separate class setting with assistants
• A one-to-one setting between students and the instructor