[blindkid] PE in middle school

[Arielle Silverman]

I think you can get OT through the school, but others can chime in on
that. I'm thinking spending the P.E. time doing things like practicing
turning keys, or tying laces or putting things over her head, things
like that; nothing strenuous. I don't think her weight should prevent
her from building those kinds of skills. How much does she weigh?
You'd want to discuss with her dr. but I wouldn't think sitting-down
kinds of activities like the ones I suggested would set off a
vasovagal attack, and she could always stop and take a break if she
gets frustrated.

On 3/13/13, Julie Yanez <jyanez112 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Should we seek that with the school, or through her Dr?  Her Dr wants her
> to gain some weight before we try anything. She has another illness called
> vaso-vagal. She has random drops in blood pressure and then passes out.
> I've been fortunate to be right next to her during these episodes to where
> I hold her and she never falls or hits anything. But if it's not one thing,
> it's another.
> On Mar 13, 2013 10:15 PM, "Arielle Silverman" <arielle71 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Ugh I was afraid of that. Some APE teachers are wonderful and others
>> are just.....Well not so wonderful when it comes to understanding
>> blindness. :)
>> Wondering if you could get the PE replaced with occupational or
>> physical therapy to help tackle some of the fine/gross motor issues?
>> Have these therapies been helpful in the past?
>> Arielle
>>
>> On 3/13/13, Julie Yanez <jyanez112 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> > She's been under the 2% tile her whole life. I'm now using a protein
>> weight
>> > gainer in hopes it will add a few pounds and that will help ease other
>> > problems.
>> > On Mar 13, 2013 10:01 PM, "Julie Yanez" <jyanez112 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >
>> >> I have seen very little improvement with her APE. I see her come
>> >> further
>> >> with her OM on her independent skills. But then again the past 2 years
>> >> have
>> >> been hard with a new blood pressure illness and also puberty. Hasn't
>> been
>> >> easy. They have been doing tedious things like having her walk the
>> >> track
>> >> or
>> >> do sit ups. Her IEP goal from her APE was to be able to throw a ball
>> over
>> >> hand at a target.
>> >> ....I hope they know she can't see the target. I don't believe they
>> >> have
>> >> a
>> >> beeping ball to be able to know where the ball went. I know she has a
>> >> basketball with a bell in it, and a beepball. Now that I'm thinking
>> about
>> >> it, I'm not sure APE has been any help at all aside from not having to
>> be
>> >> singled out with her classmates.
>> >> On Mar 13, 2013 9:53 PM, "Arielle Silverman" <arielle71 at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> Hi Julie,
>> >>> It sounds completely reasonable to say on her IEP that she will be
>> >>> pulled for one-on-one during the PE period instead of going to the PE
>> >>> class. If she's pulled out, she won't have to dress out at all.
>> >>> I think the bigger issue is, Do you like her APE teacher and do you
>> >>> think pulling her out to work with the APE teacher would be a good
>> >>> thing? What kinds of things could they work on together? What kinds
>> >>> of
>> >>> things have they been working on over the past two years? You can
>> >>> build on that when developing the IEP goals for next year and beyond.
>> >>> Arielle
>> >>>
>> >>> On 3/13/13, Julie Yanez <jyanez112 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >>> > She has had an APE teacher for 2 years now. My daughter is a bright
>> >>> kiddo,
>> >>> > but we know where she falls behind. She is in 5th grade but
>> >>> > mainstreamed
>> >>> > into 3rd grade language arts and math. She has a memory like an
>> >>> > elephant
>> >>> > but falls behind on comprehension. She can memorize 2+3=5. But if
>> >>> > you
>> >>> ask
>> >>> > her to add 3+2, she can't tell you the answer right away. But yet
>> >>> > she
>> >>> aces
>> >>> > every single 5th grade spelling test.
>> >>> > And her physical abilities is where we push hard on as well. Fine
>> >>> > and
>> >>> gross
>> >>> > motor. She can't gain weight to gain the muscle, and she has other
>> >>> > underline issues as well. I would prefer her to just be pulled out
>> >>> > of
>> >>> class
>> >>> > a few times a week with an APE teacher since she's most comfortable
>> >>> > one
>> >>> on
>> >>> > one. I know PE is one of the periods in the 6 period classes at her
>> >>> soon to
>> >>> > be middle school. I'm just wondering if I can and can't fight for
>> >>> > on
>> >>> > her
>> >>> > IEP. Such as dressing. If I have been working on it here at home
>> >>> > with
>> >>> her
>> >>> > for years, what's to make me think she can magically learn it in a
>> >>> > timed
>> >>> > setting like dressing out at school? Plus she gets easily
>> >>> > flustered.
>> >>> > And
>> >>> > that leads to changes in her blood pressure that leads to one of
>> >>> > her
>> >>> other
>> >>> > underlined issues. Its a vicious cycle she has.
>> >>> > I'm hoping I can have her dressing out be something as simple as
>> >>> accessing
>> >>> > her own lock, changing shoes, maybe into gym shorts and reporting
>> >>> > to
>> a
>> >>> > designated area.
>> >>> > I need as much help as I can knowing what we will face going into
>> >>> > middle
>> >>> > school.
>> >>> > On Mar 13, 2013 9:15 PM, "Arielle Silverman" <arielle71 at gmail.com>
>> >>> wrote:
>> >>> >
>> >>> >> Hi Julie and all,
>> >>> >> I guess I'd like to take this discussion in a bit of a different
>> >>> >> direction. I'm wondering if it would be possible to replace your
>> >>> >> daughter's PE requirement with some extra one-on-one time with
>> >>> >> someone
>> >>> >> who can help her work on some of these motor issues so she can
>> master
>> >>> >> some of these independent living skills like dressing herself and
>> >>> >> using keys? (Perhaps an OT, PT, APE instructor or some
>> >>> >> combination)?
>> >>> >> To me, this seems much more critically important than whatever she
>> >>> >> might get out of being in a mainstreamed PE class--especially if
>> >>> >> she
>> >>> >> wants to start going to sleepover parties with her girlfriends, or
>> >>> >> letting herself into the house when you aren't at home. It seems
>> once
>> >>> >> she has learned these skills she will be more ready for a
>> traditional
>> >>> >> P.E. program.
>> >>> >> More generally, to everyone, I think there is some benefit in
>> >>> >> having
>> >>> >> blind kids do their P.E. requirements in a more individualized
>> >>> >> fashion
>> >>> >> rather than just having someone come into their regular P.E. class
>> to
>> >>> >> help them. I'm usually an advocate of including blind students in
>> the
>> >>> >> regular curriculum as much as possible, but based on my own
>> >>> >> experiences with regular and adapted P.E. I feel that P.E. needs
>> >>> >> to
>> >>> >> be
>> >>> >> handled a little differently. I'm curious if others have had
>> >>> >> experiences similar to mine.
>> >>> >> I was in regular P.E. throughout elementary school and sixth grade
>> >>> >> (in
>> >>> >> middle school) and what I remember was either being forced to sit
>> >>> >> on
>> >>> >> the bench, participating with a lot of help from my classmates, or
>> >>> >> having an APE teacher practically on top of me aiming throws for
>> >>> >> me,
>> >>> >> catching balls, etc. so I was basically a passive participant.
>> Sports
>> >>> >> activities were never adapted, and at times my P.E. teachers were
>> >>> >> quite frank in stating that I wasn't expected to perform well. For
>> >>> >> example, in sixth grade I was required to dress out, but when we
>> >>> >> ran
>> >>> >> laps the kid who forgot his gym clothes at home was always the one
>> >>> >> assigned to be my running guide, because evidently the P.E.
>> >>> >> teachers
>> >>> >> didn't think that guiding me on the track was strenuous enough
>> >>> >> exercise to make someone dress out to do it. Anyway you get the
>> idea.
>> >>> >> In seventh grade on, my PE requirements were waived due to alleged
>> >>> >> "safety concerns" and I was assigned one-on-one classes with an
>> >>> >> APE
>> >>> >> instructor instead. I hated this at first but it turned out to be
>> >>> >> great because my teacher was a female bodybuilder who assigned me
>> >>> >> to
>> >>> >> do weight training. I worked with her twice per week throughout
>> >>> >> the
>> >>> >> eighth, ninth, and tenth grades and she taught me how to use all
>> >>> >> the
>> >>> >> common weight machines and free-weights, and trained me to build
>> >>> >> up
>> >>> >> to
>> >>> >> some fairly competitive lifting routines. Initially I thought it
>> >>> >> was
>> >>> >> unfair to be separated from my peers and to have to come in before
>> >>> >> school for bench-press drills, but eventually I gained confidence
>> >>> >> in
>> >>> >> my body and my physical abilities because I was working with
>> >>> >> someone
>> >>> >> who challenged me and held me to high standards instead of just
>> >>> >> casting me aside to sit on the bench. In tenth grade the program
>> >>> >> changed from on-campus sessions to my walking from school to my
>> local
>> >>> >> YMCA to complete the exercise routine (with supervision from the
>> >>> >> instructor at first, and then completely independent). It has been
>> >>> >> twelve years since that class ended for me, but I still know
>> >>> >> exactly
>> >>> >> how to use all the equipment, and though I have been erratic in my
>> >>> >> gym
>> >>> >> participation, I still enjoy lifting weights and still do some of
>> the
>> >>> >> floor exercises that I learned. I also know a few other blind
>> >>> >> students
>> >>> >> who had similar individualized APE programs, some of which also
>> >>> >> involved stationary bike, elliptical or treadmill routines as
>> >>> >> well.
>> >>> >> I am pretty sure that the real purpose of required physical
>> education
>> >>> >> (for all kids) is to instill good exercise habits and to motivate
>> >>> >> kids
>> >>> >> to become and remain physically active. I question how well that
>> >>> >> can
>> >>> >> happen for a blind student in a mainstreamed class where the blind
>> >>> >> student is always at a disadvantage, the last to be chosen for
>> >>> >> every
>> >>> >> team, etc. If others have found ways to make mainstreamed P.E.
>> >>> >> truly
>> >>> >> accessible, I would be very curious to hear how that was done.
>> >>> >> However, I suspect that it is quite difficult for regular P.E.
>> >>> >> teachers to make their classes fully accessible to a blind student
>> >>> >> because many of the modifications, like using beeping balls, have
>> >>> >> an
>> >>> >> effect on how the whole class is run. It's great if you have a
>> >>> >> P.E.
>> >>> >> arrangement where your child is fully included and where he/she
>> >>> >> can
>> >>> >> excel. If that's not happening, though, I think the option of
>> setting
>> >>> >> up an individualized adapted P.E. program is one worth considering
>> so
>> >>> >> that your child can achieve excellence in the class and learn some
>> >>> >> practical, good exercise habits. Of course, this is only going to
>> >>> >> work
>> >>> >> if the adapted P.E. teacher at the school is a quality teacher,
>> >>> >> someone with an open mind and someone who believes in blind
>> >>> >> people.
>> I
>> >>> >> also think that sports groups for the blind, and mainstreamed
>> >>> >> community sports leagues where the leaders believe in blind
>> >>> >> people,
>> >>> >> are alternative ways to achieve these goals if the P.E. programs
>> >>> >> at
>> >>> >> school are not worthwhile.
>> >>> >>
>> >>> >> What are your thoughts on this?
>> >>> >> Arielle
>> >>> >>
>> >>> >> On 3/13/13, Julie Yanez <jyanez112 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >>> >> > Thank you. I'll look into it all.
>> >>> >> > On Mar 13, 2013 10:14 AM, "Bernadette Jacobs"
>> >>> >> > <bernienfb75 at gmail.com
>> >>> >
>> >>> >> > wrote:
>> >>> >> >
>> >>> >> >> Good Afternoon Julie!
>> >>> >> >>
>> >>> >> >> Don't lose heart Darling!  Firstly, RE: the combination lock,
>> >>> >> >> there
>> >>> >> >> actually is, (believe it or not), such a thing as Braille
>> >>> Combination
>> >>> >> >> Locks.  And they are very easy to work. You can check with
>> >>> >> >> Ellen
>> >>> >> >> Ringlein over at NFB: 410-659-9314 in the independence market.
>> >>> >> >> You
>> >>> >> >> might also check with the folks over at BISM: 410-7372600 and
>> ask
>> >>> to
>> >>> >> >> speak with Andy McIver.  Or there's Independent Living Aids.  I
>> >>> don't
>> >>> >> >> remember the number offhand.  You can always "goodsearch" it.
>> >>> >> >>
>> >>> >> >> As for the dressing part, I'm not the expert in that
>> >>> >> >> department.
>> >>>  But,
>> >>> >> >> hopefully, before long, somebody will have some ideas for you
>> >>> >> >> there
>> >>> as
>> >>> >> >> well.
>> >>> >> >>
>> >>> >> >> On 3/12/13, Julie Yanez <jyanez112 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >>> >> >> > Hi all,
>> >>> >> >> > My daughter will be going into middle school next year and
>> >>> physical
>> >>> >> >> > education will be one of the courses. I have a few concerns
>> that
>> >>> >> >> > I
>> >>> >> know
>> >>> >> >> > will be brought up in our next IEP in a few weeks.
>> >>> >> >> > 1. Will she be required to dress into PE clothes?
>> >>> >> >> > Right now she has lots of difficulty dressing herself. Pants,
>> >>> socks
>> >>> >> and
>> >>> >> >> > shoes are easy. Its the upper half she can't accomplish yet.
>> She
>> >>> >> >> > doesn't
>> >>> >> >> > have the muscle structure to do certain things and still had
>> >>> >> difficulty
>> >>> >> >> > with muscle isolation. Her Dr thinks it's just part of being
>> >>> >> >> > extremely
>> >>> >> >> > premee and her being underweight.
>> >>> >> >> > I am also NOT ok with someone assisting her to dress out. She
>> >>> >> >> > will
>> >>> >> >> > be
>> >>> >> >> > in
>> >>> >> >> > APE. Is not dressing out a reasonable request for her APE in
>> her
>> >>> >> >> > IEP?
>> >>> >> >> >
>> >>> >> >> > If she is required to change in some way such as just shoes,
>> >>> >> >> > what
>> >>> >> >> > type
>> >>> >> >> > of
>> >>> >> >> > lock might be easiest to start off with?  I don't know how to
>> >>> modify
>> >>> >> >> > a
>> >>> >> >> > combination lock for her, and like I said, she hasn't been
>> >>> >> >> > able
>> >>> >> >> > to
>> >>> >> >> isolate
>> >>> >> >> > fingers well. So getting a key in a lock is very very
>> >>> >> >> > difficult
>> >>> for
>> >>> >> >> > her.
>> >>> >> >> We
>> >>> >> >> > have tried for so long already.
>> >>> >> >> >
>> >>> >> >> > What are some things I need to know before we start PE in
>> middle
>> >>> >> school
>> >>> >> >> so
>> >>> >> >> > I can bring up to her IEP team?
>> >>> >> >> >
>> >>> >> >> > Thank you all in advance. I need to get this all figured out
>> >>> before
>> >>> >> the
>> >>> >> >> > meeting and before the year starts and we find things out the
>> >>> >> >> > hard
>> >>> >> way.
>> >>> >> >> > ~Julie.
>> >>> >> >> > _______________________________________________
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>> >>> >>
>> >>>
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>> >>> >> >> >
>> >>> >> >>
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