Adapted Physical education

[Bwade36]

i currently work in a residential treatment facility for adolescents with Autism, and a wids array of Pervasive developmental disabilities. currently teh students mainly swim, but i was wonderinf if anyone had any suggestions other activities that can be done with the kids. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[StefAPE]

Since you work specifically with kids with PDD, you already know all the characteristics, but for those of you unfamiliar, students with one of the PDD’s, such as Autism, tend to have socialization problems, communication problems, etc. Autistic kids have a hard time with imaginary play and tend to be quite literal and concrete. Students with PDD’s generally have sensory issues as well, and can overload easily from too much sensory stimulation, which may lead to duress or even tantrums. They also may require predictable routines for success. Keep these things in mind as you plan.

I tend to focus on individual skills in my lessons for students with PDD’s. To set up my Autistic students for success, I keep a visual schedule of the day’s routine. Autistic kids need to know what’s going on to feel in control. The visual schedule gives them that control. I also keep a survival kit handy. My survival kit is a large fanny pack with sunglasses, headphones, fidgets, stickers, pretzels, raisins, etc. Depending on the need level of the student, I incorporate rewards like a raisin into the visual schedule after various tasks are completed. I pull out the sunglasses and headphones if I see a student might be in duress or visually or auditorially overloaded. I like to position my students who are sensitive to sensory overload along the perimeter of the activity instead of right smack dab in the middle. The other thing I avoid is introducing too many new tasks in one session. I like to repeat things frequently so the students have that sense of familiarity they tend to crave.

I also like to set up a “safety corner.” It’s a space blocked off behind a mat that has a blanket and beanbag and a timer. I teach my students who overload that they can use it for a minute whenever they need a “wellness” break. Sometimes I direct the students there myself.

With these precautions taken and systems in place, I feel like I can plan any sort of developmentally appropriate individualized activity for my students with Autism to engage in. For example, the instant activity might be dynaband work. The visual schedule will show the student needs to do 10 bicep curls before earning a raisin. The next activity might be galloping a lap while moving a ribbon in space…and on and on. I had an Autistic student last year who was so prone to tantrums we worked one on one. My goal for him each 30 minute session was to complete 10 repetitions of 5 tasks on his visual schedule (so 10 ball bounces, 10 curlups, 10 jumprope attempts, etc.) It would take us the entire 30 minute session to get through the visual schedule, but he would do it! Without the visual schedule and the survival kit, he would not have been so successful.

So my point in all this is, use your visual schedule and plan individualized tasks! With the visual schedule, you can attempt any developmentally appropriate PE task! For ideas on PE tasks, go check out PE Central!

[Durrant]

Hi,
There are some exercise activities you can do with your clients with some clear floor space and some very basic equipment. These are all written down with extended activities in the new title;
'An Introduction to Exercise and Sport for People Who Have Autism' published September 2009.
The ideas were set out for people with severe Autism with the object of them hooking them into activities that will eventually lead to hopefully enjoying sport in their wider community. There are so few resources available:mad: it could be what you need as a start.
Good Luck!:D