HPER program aids 37 children weekly

On days that the undergraduate class "Adapted Physical Education" is in lab, the gym may not be filled with the shouts from a game of basketball or the music from a dance class, but an entirely different type of activity. \nThe class will be holding an open house Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m. to highlight its program, which offers individualized physical education programs to members of the Bloomington community with disabilities. \n"Basically the class has a regular class and then a lab component," graduate supervisor Keri Schindler said. "Students must write up a lesson plan every week, and they are required to teach that lesson taking into account the ability level of the person they're working with. We have kids that range in age from three to 21, and kids that are cognitively fine and just use a wheel chair to kids that have autism."\nAccording to the U.S. Census Department, nearly one in five Americans, roughly 53 million people, have a disability. This statistic is precisely why the Adapted Physical Education program exists. The program, which was started last year, offers study of principles and practices designing exercise programs and activities for people with disabilities. \nThe program not only offers weekly individualized activity for the 37 children in the program, but also an opportunity for their parents to come together and offer support. \n"We set up the student lounge for the parents to go to, and it's kind of like a parental support group," Schindler said. "The parents of the autistic children especially have a chance to sit down and talk and discuss what's been working and what hasn't. It's a good opportunity for them."\nCoordinators of the event invited IU faculty from various schools and departments as well as representatives from the local YMCA and Parks and Recreation programs. \n"We just want people to know what we're offering, so they can come to us or they can refer people to us," Schindler said.