Using Paralympic School Day as a Model for an Adapted Physical Education Professional Development for Physical Educators

Abstract

The successful inclusion of children with disabilities into general physical education (PE) depends in large part on the attitudes and competence of general PE teachers. Unfortunately, many PE teachers’ undergraduate preparation is insufficient when it comes to including children with disabilities. In-service professional development can provide specific information about inclusion that can make up for the lack of training during undergraduate training. This paper presents a guide for the use of the Paralympic School Day (PSD) program, a disability awareness program targeting school-age children without disabilities, in the development of an in-service PE teacher training. It begins with a summary of PSD and contact theory, on which PSD is based. This is followed by specific information on the development of a PSD-focused in-service training that uses Paralympians and PSD activity stations to reduce prejudicial beliefs and help general PE teachers understand the importance of supporting students with disabilities in their programs.