Inclusion in school physical education: a look at diversity

Abstract

This study aims to map and analyze the research published in the last five years on inclusion in physical education in schools. The motivation for this study arises from the practical demands in the school setting regarding architectural accessibility, instrumental resources, teaching strategies, and interpersonal relationships, where the social world is constructed by different social actors in the school and students with disabilities. A systematic review methodology was employed, utilizing electronic databases and reference lists of identified articles. The inclusion criteria included studies that focused on adolescents with physical disabilities, utilized measures of inclusive physical activity, were related to elementary education, involved the training of physical education teachers, and were original research articles. The review process involved the evaluation of titles, abstracts, and full texts according to predefined criteria. The selected articles were analyzed for sample characteristics, assessment instruments, inclusive activities, and teaching methodologies in physical education, implementation of active methodologies with physically disabled students, teacher training and pedagogical methodologies, ethical considerations, and the journal in which the article was published. The studies analyzed encompass various perspectives and methodological proposals for physical education and the inclusion of students. Five categories emerged from the analysis: concepts and practices of inclusion, student participation, diverse socio-educational environment, use of technological resources, and teacher perception and practice. The findings emphasize the importance of promoting inclusive practices, listening to students' experiences, creating an inclusive school environment, incorporating technological resources with pedagogical mediation, and providing continuous teacher training. These conclusions underscore the need to consider the needs of students with disabilities, support teacher education, and foster an inclusive school environment in physical education.