Creating Equal Opportunities for Children and Youth with Disabilities to Participate in Physical Education and Extracurricular Activities
PROGRAM OPTIONS
PE and athletics can be offered in various degrees of inclusion in programs and activities with children and youth without disabilities. IDEA requires that each child with a disability participates with nondisabled children in these programs and activities to the maximum extent appropriate to the needs of that child.7 Physical education services, specially designed if necessary, must be made available to every child with a disability receiving a free appropriate public education, unless the public agency enrolls children without disabilities and does not provide physical education to children without disabilities in the same grades.8 Each public agency must take steps to provide nonacademic and extracurricular services and activities, including athletics, in the manner necessary to afford children with disabilities an equal opportunity for participation in those services and activities.9 For students served under IDEA, the student's IEP must include, among other things, a statement of the special education and related services, and supplementary aids, services, and other supports that are needed to meet each child's unique needs in order for the child to: (1) advance appropriately towards attaining the annual goals; (2) be involved in and make progress in the general education curriculum and to participate in extracurricular and other nonacademic activities; and (3) be educated and participate in such activities with other children with disabilities and nondisabled children.10 The IEP team, which includes both general and special education teachers, might benefit from participation by a general or adaptive physical education teacher in order to develop the IEP for certain students. Section 504 and Title II also reflect the principle of inclusion in their mandate of equal access and require that students with disabilities are served in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs.
8 The IDEA Part B regulations in 34 CFR §300.108(b) require that each child with a disability must be afforded the opportunity to participate in the regular physical education program available to nondisabled children unless the child is enrolled full time in a separate facility; or the child needs specially designed physical education, as prescribed in the child‟s IEP. The regulations in 34 CFR §300.108(d) require the public agency responsible for the education of a child with a disability who is enrolled in a separate facility to ensure that the child receives appropriate physical education services.
9 The IDEA Part B regulations in 34 CFR §300.107 address nonacademic and extracurricular services and activities.
10 The IDEA Part B regulations in 34 CFR §300.320 (a) address the content required in a child‟s IEP and §300.320(a)(4) requires a statement of the special education and related services and supplementary aids and services and other supports to be provided to the child.
User Comments/Questions
Add Comment/Question