Adaptive Physical Ed. Equipment for Students with Autism

My Students

Every child needs and deserves a PE program and the opportunity to enjoy recess! I work with 7 students with Autism who have a hard time joining the typically developing students in their PE class or at recess because the equipment available is not adapted for their use.

My students have a variety of sensory and motor needs.

Some of them are sensory-seeking and crave sensory feedback. Sometimes this makes them appear "out of control" because they do not always have legitimate and positive ways to direct this energy. Some of my students are sensory-defensive. They will avoid sensory experiences to the point of never joining a group of students and remaining inactive. All of them need to work on their gross motor, fine motor, and social skills - but in order to do this, their specific sensory needs should be taken into consideration. They need practice using materials and equipment that help them bridge the gap between their world, and the world of their peers. Another obstacle for these students is that they live in a rural area with a lot of poverty. The district does not have money to spend on this equipment, and neither do their parents. It is up to us to make sure these students have no barriers to meeting their physical and sensory needs.

My Project

Two of my seven students are VERY sensory-seeking and have high motor needs, and would LOVE the trampoline. Since it folds up, it could be used for short exercise breaks in their classroom as well as during PE or recess. The bar on the trampoline would help the students who are less enthusiastic about physical exercise to use it as well. The stretchy bands and balance boards will give these students proprioceptive and vestibular sensory feedback that they need to help regulate their sensory systems. The Velcro vests and other "team" equipment will encourage these students to play games together and with typically developing peers that are within their developmental level. Plus, as a speech language pathologist, I love how I can use this equipment for sensory experiences and attach language to it. I can help the students develop play skills with typically developing peer models using this fun equipment. All of the equipment is portable, making it even more useful!

Physical exercise is important to us all, and these students do not always have ways to participate with other students at their own level.

They need specific motor equipment that they can request during breaks that is portable and easy to use in any classroom, gym or outdoors. They need more ways to have fun and begin to interact socially with each other and their peers. This equipment supports a healthy lifestyle, motor, language and social development, and it's fun!