What's New In Adapted Physical Education

Check out a brand new episode of What's New in APE! This post/podcast focuses on my experience of going through the dissertation process and the investigation I conducted for my dissertation. Within this short podcast episode I discuss how I chose my dissertation topic and what it meant for me to complete my PhD program. Also, make sure to check out the blog post as there is a link to the dissertation defense presentation and a link to a free webinar I recently conducted with a focus on APE and assistive technology for the Center on Assistive Technology and Disability (CTD).

In this episode, I had an in-depth conversation about the need for APE teaching endorsements at the state and national level with Dr. Suzanna Dillon, an APE professor and my dissertation adviser at Texas Woman's University and Toni Bader, a APE teacher for the Seattle School District. In this podcast, we discussed some of the experiences and successes that the panelist have had in advocating for the need for an APE endorsement at local, state, and national levels.

This episode is the second part of a two part series that focuses on NCPHAD: Building Healthy Communities, which is a public health practice and resource center on health promotion for people with disabilities. NCPHAD has a multitude of resources for all types of adapted physical activity professionals, including APE teachers. For this episode we were able to do a in-person interview with two staff members at NCPHAD. The two interviewees were Dr. Jim Rimmer, a professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the director of the UAB-Lakeshore Foundation Research Collaborative and Director of NCPHAD; and Alex Martinez, the Expert Inclusion Specialist for NCPHAD. My hopes from this episode are to share resources from NCPHAD to my listeners/readers, please go to their website to see all of the resources that they offer! This episode focuses specifically on (a) whether people with disabilities can be healthy, (b) archiving adaptions in our field (grades), and (c) how we can use research in our field

This episode specifically focused on NCPHAD: Building Healthy Communities, which is a public health practice and resource center on health promotion for people with disabilities. NCPHAD has a multitude of resources for all types of adapted physical activity professionals, including APE teachers. For this episode we were able to do a in-person interview with two staff members at NCPHAD. The two interviewees were Dr. Jim Rimmer, a professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the director of the UAB-Lakeshore Foundation Research Collaborative and Director of NCPHAD; and Alex Martinez, the Expert Inclusion Specialist for NCPHAD. My hopes from this episode are to share resources from NCPHAD to my listeners/readers, please go to their website to see all of the resources that they offer! This podcast is part one of a two part episode. Part one focuses specifically on (a) what NCPHAD is and how it came to be, (b) how to navigate their website, and (c) some of the different resources they have ava

In this part 2 episode, I continued my in-depth conversation with Dr. Monica Lepore, an APE professor at the West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Lepore recently was given a sabbatical to go around the country to examine different practicums (college courses that give college students the opportunity to work with students with disabilities). She took this journey to find out the status of the different programs out there and how we can attempt to assist all APE practicum programs to be as strong as possible. Dr. Lepore was able to travel to 8 APE practicums within the last few months, and joined us on the podcast to share her findings and reflect on her experience. This podcast is part two of a two part episode. Part two focuses specifically on (a) the key points that make practicums successful, (b) the idea of volunteerism and how it relates to APE, and (c) we discuss the realities of housing our practicum experiences within a segregated APE setting, rather than in a more inclusive setting.

In this episode, I had an in-depth conversation with Dr. Monica Lepore, an APE professor at the West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Lepore recently was given a sabbatical to go around the country to examine different practicums (college courses that give college students the opportunity to work with students with disabilities). She took this journey to find out the status of the different programs out there and how we can attempt to assist all APE practicum programs to be as strong as possible. Dr. Lepore was able to travel to 8 APE practicums within the last few months, and joined us on the podcast to share her findings and reflect on her experience. This podcast is part one of a two part episode. Part one focuses specifically on (a) why Dr. Lepore decided to take a sabbatical to learn more about APE practicums, (b) how each practicum was interesting and also similar to her own program, and (c) how to those in higher education can develop stronger practicum experiences for their students. Check o

Hello APE podcast listeners/readers! This episode/post is different then most, as this episode/post is focused on my experience at the SHAPE America conference this year and on a book review of the new textbook 'Developmental and Adapted Physical Activity Assessment (2nd Ed)' by Horvat, Kelly, Block, and Croce. I needed to do an informal reflection on my experiences at SHAPE this year, as it was truly a unique experience I had. In the podcast, I discuss my experiences with some of the engaging presentations, research that was presented, and some of the great networking that occurred.

I am excited to be bringing you a new episode on adapted physical education (APE). This episode picks up from where we left off in episode 1, where we spoke to representatives from a regional center (Region 10) in the state of Texas, which helps to provide resources and professional development specific to APE to the entire state of Texas. This second part of a two part episode, had an in-person interview with three of the APE professionals at Region 10. The three interviewees were Amy Talbert, Randy Foederer, and Angela Campbell. Unfortunately, in many other states we do not have a designated regional center that helps to promote the field of APE. My hopes from this episode are to share resources from Region 10 to my listeners/readers, as well as to give you all the idea and maybe the framework to develop regional centers similar to Region 10 in other states. This podcast is part two of a two part episode. Part two focuses specifically on (a) APE transition tools, (b) how to advocate for APE, and (c) how dev

I am excited to be bringing you a new episode on adapted physical education. This episode specifically focused on a regional center in the state of Texas, which helps to provide resources and professional development to the entire state of Texas. For this episode we were able to do a in-person interview with three of the APE professionals at Region 10. The three interviewees were Amy Talbert, Randy Foederer, and Angela Campbell. Unfortunately, in many other states we do not have a designated regional center that helps to promote the field of APE. My hopes from this episode are to share resources from Region 10 to my listeners/readers, as well as to give you all the idea and maybe the framework to develop regional centers similar to Region 10 in other states. This podcast is part one of a two part episode. Part one focuses specifically on (a) how Region 10 came to be, (b) what types of professional development they deliver to different schools, and (c) some of the different assessment tools they developed and

Part two of the transition podcast focuses specifically on (a) the Slippery Rock transition program that focuses specifically on vocational and health skills for students and young adults with disabilities, (b) why health and PE often are forgotten in the realm of transition, and (c) how we think APE should be incorporated in the transition program and where we see the future of APE programming within the transition process.

In this episode, I had had an in-depth conversation with two experts on the transition process and how to integrate students with disabilities into community recreational settings. The panelists included former guest Lara Brickhouse, the 2017 SHAPE APE teacher of the year and an APE teacher who works with students with disabilities during the transition process; and Dr. Robert Arnhold, a professor and director of the adapted physical activity program at Slippery Rock University. Dr. Arnhold also assists with a transition program at Slippery Rock University that focuses on daily living skills, work skills, and health for students in the transition process. This podcast is part one of a two part episode. Part one focuses specifically on (a) what the transition process is in special education, (b) the APE teachers' role in the transition process, and (c) how to develop community connections that will lead to meaningful opportunities for students with disabilities to be active in their communities.

In this 2nd part of a two part episode, I had the opportunity to sit down and have in-depth conversations with multiple experts who were somehow connected to the Minnesota Developmental Adapted Physical Education (DAPE) conference. In this episode I was able to meet with two of the DAPE keynote speakers who discussed their presentations and why their topics were of great importance to the field. The two keynote speakers were Lara Brickhouse, the 2017 SHAPE APE teacher of the year; and Dr. Suzanna Dillon, my dissertation adviser :) and the president of the National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities. With listening to this podcast, it is my hope that (1) some of the listeners learn about the great things that are occurring at APE conferences and the impact of that leadership has on our field; and (2) that if you are in a state that does not have an APE conference of leadership, that you might consider developing one yourself or with a small group of other passionate APE teache

In this episode, I had the opportunity to sit down and have in-depth conversations with multiple experts who were somehow connected to the Minnesota Developmental Adapted Physical Education (DAPE) conference. In this episode I was able to meet with some DAPE members who discuss why they attend the DAPE conference every year. In addition, I was also able to talk to two board members of the DAPE leadership committee, Mike Doyle and Jennifer Heebink, on why they decided to join the DAPE leadership and what their roles on the leadership committee. Lastly, we found out a little bit about the history of the DAPE conference. With listening to this podcast, it is my hope that (1) some of the listeners learn about the great things that are occurring at APE conferences and the impact of that leadership has on our field; and (2) that if you are in a state that does not have an APE conference of leadership, that you might consider developing one yourself or with a small group of other passionate APE teachers.

In this episode, I had the opportunity to sit down and have an in-depth conversation with a panel of experts on teaching children with autism in a physical education setting. The panelist for this podcast are all professors and researchers within the field of adapted physical education and specialize in physical education for children with autism. The panelist were Dr. Martin Block, a professor of adapted physical education in the department of Kinesiology at Virginia University and the author of the textbook A Teacher's Guide To Adapted Physical Education: Including Students with Disabilities in Sports and Recreation; Dr. Sean Healy an assistant professor in adapted physical education in the department of Kinesiology at Humboldt University; and Melissa Bittner a past podcast guest and who recently finished up her dissertation and will begin teaching and conducting research next fall in adapted physical education in the department of Kinesiology at California State University Long Beach. This podcast is par

In this episode, I had the opportunity to sit down and have an in-depth conversation with a panel of experts on teaching children with autism in a physical education setting. The panelist for this podcast are all professors and researchers within the field of adapted physical education and specialize in physical education for children with autism. The panelist were Dr. Martin Block, a professor of adapted physical education in the department of Kinesiology at Virginia University and the author of the textbook A Teacher's Guide To Adapted Physical Education: Including Students with Disabilities in Sports and Recreation; Dr. Sean Healy an assistant professor in adapted physical education in the department of Kinesiology at Humboldt University; and Melissa Bittner a past podcast guest and fellow Texas Woman's University PhD candidate who is finishing up her dissertation and will begin teaching and conducting research next fall in adapted physical education in the department of Kinesiology at California State Un

In this episode, I was had the opportunity to sit down and have an in-depth discussion with Dr. Ronald Davis on implementing disability sport within a general physical education setting. The podcasts focuses specifically on (a) how Dr. Davis got involved in disability sport, (b) the definition of disability sport,(c) how to integrate disability sport units into a general physical education setting, and (d) working with wounded veterans and integrating them back into their communities through sport (see Project INVEST). Dr. Ronald W. Davis, is a professor of adapted physical education in the department of kinesiology at Texas Women’s University. He has almost 30 years of experience in higher education promoting professional development and advocating for people with disabilities. Dr. Davis has published extensively both nationally and internationally on injuries to elite athletes with disabilities, legal mandates for those with disabilities, training for people with disabilities, and related topics.

This is a very special episode where I was able to meet and interview Dr. Dale Ulrich, one of the most influential APE professionals in our field. Dr. Ulrich is the creator of the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD), and is a professor at the University of Michigan in Kinesiology and Adapted Physical Activity/Education. This episode was originally supposed to be a quick follow-up to the last assessment podcast, but the conversation went a bit longer than expected and was able to stand on its own. In this podcast we discussed how and why to use the TGMD as an assessment tool, using the TGMD for placement and for eligibility for APE services, and how the new TGMD-3, which should come out this summer, is different than the TGMD-2.

In this episode we took questions from the audience and the panel answered to the best of their abilities. The questions included asking about how we change perception, language to use when writing up assessments, and how to better assess entire APE programs.

I am extremely excited to be sharing with you the second part of a three part episode with a live podcast from the 45th National Adapted Physical Education Conference in California. This podcast discussion focused on assessment within APE. In this episode we discussed using assessment for eligibility reasons and using on-going (formative) assessment. In addition, at the end of the podcast we take a few audience questions in regards to assessment. To learn more about the California state APE conference Click Here.

I am extremely excited to be sharing with you all my second live podcast series from the 45th National Adapted Physical Education Conference in California. This podcast discussion focused on assessment within APE. In this panel we had another all star panel filled with a variety of APE/assessment experts. Our panel included Dr. Lisa Silliman-French, an APE Professor at Texas Woman’s University and a former APE teacher and special education coordinator for 17 years; Dr. Barry Lavay, a professor in the Department of Kinesiology at California State University and author of the co-authored textbook Positive Behavior Management in Physical Activity Settings; Kathryn Russell a Special Education Administrator for Los Angeles County Office of Education and a former APE specialist; and Marci Pope a Co-Director for the Northern California Adapted Physical Education Consortium and a lecturer at California State University. The podcast will be broken up into 3 separate episodes which each focus on a portion of assessment