Keep Adapted Physical Education in Mind When Serving Students

Below you will find a message from Robin Olberding, the Agency’s Adapted Physical Education Consultant. If you have any questions or want to discuss the services she offers, contact Robin at rolberding@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 12369.

I am the Adapted PE Consultant for all the schools served by Heartland AEA. I have been an Adapted PE Consultant for the past 28 years, and I’m housed in the Ames Office. I’m asking for your assistance and support during this school year.

In order to meet the needs of students and teachers in all our districts, I would appreciate being informed of concerns/needs, as you become aware of them, in the PE/recess/rec-leisure area. The following information will be helpful when you contact me:

• Student’s name and grade
• Teacher contact
• School/District
• Area of concern
• Disability (if known)

This information will greatly assist me in addressing concerns in a timely manner. I would also like to be as pro-active as possible in meeting the needs of students and teachers. If you would like my input or attendance at meetings, please let me know dates and times as early as possible.

Adapted PE Consultation services are appropriate when:

• Problem-solving is needed to generate programming ideas for students’ with disabilities participation in physical education
• Modified equipment or instructional materials are needed
• The LEA staff needs consultative assistance to meet the physical education needs of students with disabilities
• Assistance is needed to determine appropriate placement of students in PE
• Educators are collaborating for successful inclusion of students in physical education and are in need of additional support

Physical Education should be addressed on each IEP on Page G. If you have questions regarding student specific concerns, please contact me (preferably before the IEP meeting). This includes regular PE—the student walks into the gym like every other student in the building, PE with modifications—if any modifications are listed on the IEP (student uses a mobility device, associate, behavior plan) and specially-designed PE—if the student does not attend PE with general education students. Contact me directly and I can assist with more details for this option.

I have equipment to loan to teachers if there is a need, and I will continue to host our special events: Hot Shot Basketball (secondary students) and Track and Field Fun Day (K-12). You can find more information on these events at www.aea11.k12.ia.us/ape.

Please share this information with the Special Education staff in the buildings you serve. It will be most helpful if I could get the name and e-mail address of all Level 2 or 3 teachers in your district.

If you have any questions or if there are situations where my services would be beneficial to you or the students you serve, please contact me.