Search

The successful inclusion of children with disabilities into general physical education (PE) depends in large part on the attitudes and competence of general PE teachers. Unfortunately, many PE teachers' undergraduate preparation is insufficient when it comes to including children with disabilities. In-service professional development can provide specific information about inclusion that can make up for the lack of training during undergraduate training. This paper presents a guide for the use of the Paralympic School Day (PSD) program, a disability awareness program targeting school-age children without disabilities, in the development of an in-service PE teacher training. It begins with a summary of PSD and contact theory, on which PSD is based. This is followed by specific information on the development of a PSD-focused in-service training that uses Paralympians and PSD activity stations to reduce prejudicial beliefs and help general PE teachers understand the importance of supporting students with disabilities in their programs.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe and understand the experiences and impact of the Paralympic School Day program on disability-related perceptions of rural high school students. Methods: Ninth- and tenth-grade physical education classes from a rural high school participated in the Paralympic School Day event. Of the 68 who attended the event, 42 students furnished assent and consent to participate. Data from reflective writing responses were analyzed inductively using a three-step approach. Findings: The analysis revealed three interrelated themes: (a) "I didn't expect it to be fun": preconceptions and reality of trying parasport, (b) "Anyone can play a sport": developing new perceptions of disability, and (c) "I never realized how blessed I was": persistence of ableist framing. Discussion: As a result of participants interacting with and learning from athletes with physical disabilities, they developed an understanding of parasport and a new paradigm through which to view individuals with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]