Adapted Sports Activities

 

Adapted Basketball/Volleyball:  The objective of Adapted Basketball is to show students that sports and physical activity have no boundaries to individuals who have physical disabilities. The game allows students to understand and have empathy for others who have different abilities.

The games are played like traditional basketball/volleyball, but with a twist!

1. Divide the students into two teams.
2. Team 1 can use only one arm during the game.
3. Team 2 can only use one leg during the game.
4. Halfway through the game, have the teams switch roles. (Team 1 now only uses one leg and Team 2 now only uses one arm.)

Following the game, the students reflect upon the activity they just played. This activity’s reflection focuses on empathy and recognizing/accommodating others’ needs.

Some example reflection questions are:

• Do you think that someone with a disability can play sports?  Why?
• How do you think people with disabilities should be treated?
• How can we better include those with a disability when we play?
• How can we better include those with a disability when we are in the classroom?

https://www.paralympic.org/athletics/classification

Video Links

Introducing Aira from Aira on Vimeo.

 

CBS: Play it by Ear 

 

https://www.paralympic.org/video/andrew-kurka-my-proud-paralympian-story

 

1. Make comparison between Olympic sports and Paralympic Sports

 

Olympic Winter Sports: Alpine Skiing Biathlon Bob Sled Cross Country Skiing Curling Figure Skating Free Style Skiing Hockey Luge Skeleton Nordic Skiing Short Track Speed Skating Ski Jumping Snowboard

Paralympic Winter Sports: Para-Alpine Skiing Para-Biathlon NO NO Para-Nordic Skiing Wheelchair Curling NO Sledge Hockey NO NO NO NO NO

 

Summer Olympic Sports:   Archery Badminton Baseball and Softball Basketball Beach Volleyball Boxing Canoe / Kayak Climbing Cycling (track, road, mountain, BMX) Diving Equestrian Fencing Field Hockey Golf Gymnastics Handball Judo Karate Roller Sport Rowing Rugby Sailing Shooting Soccer Surfing Swimming Synchronized Swimming Table Tennis Taekwondo Tennis Track and Field Triathlon Volleyball (indoor) Water Polo Weightlifting Wrestling

Paralympic Summer Sports: Archery NO NO Basketball (wheelchair) NO NO NO NO Cycling (track and road only) NO Equestrian Fencing (wheelchair) NO NO NO NO Judo NO NO Rowing Rugby (wheelchair) Sailing Shooting **Football Surfing Swimming NO Table Tennis NO Tennis (Wheelchair) NO Para-Triathlon Volleyball (sitting) NO Powerlifting NO **Football 5-a-side for vision impaired **Football 7-a-side (cerebral palsy athletes) **Goalball **Paracanoe

 

Identify Needs Statement

(Paralympic athletes need to feel challenged and included in order to feel valued.)  

IDEATE

Students can

• Modify an existing Winter/Summer Olympic event that is not currently part of the Winter/Summer Paralympics to enable Paralympic athletes to compete.
• Create a new event for Paralympic athletes, or
• Develop a physical device that will allow individuals with disabilities to participate in an Olympic event.
• Pitch their own idea

PROTOTYPE

• Proposal
• Google Site
• Drawings
• Interactive Element (e.g. Scratch Archery game for hearing impaired)

 

 

Resources

Miracle League of San Diego:  http://miracleleagueofsandiego.org/

Sports for Exceptional Athletes:  https://www.s4ea.org/

Challenged Athletes Foundation:  http://www.challengedathletes.org/programs/reach-high-community-awareness-education/