Working with special needs children is completely different then working with "normal" children. Mentally and physically challenged kids may need to be taught in more than one way. They may have to be taught in many differnt angles and attempts. For me working with special needs children brings a ton of joy into my life. Seeing children accomplish a goal is one of the most rewarding experiences that you can have.
I am extremely excited to be adding a concentration of adaptive to my major. My dream is to teach mentally and physically challenged children in physical education. Many kids who are considered disabled are sometimes picked on or made fun of by other kids. Many disabled children for physical education class are taken away by a special teacher to have their own individual class. When I was youger I was jealous of these kids because it seemed they were able to participate in the more exciting activities. When I was stuck playing dodgeball, they were practicing balancing skills and rolling on the ground on a square-shaped skateboard. Every child deserves to participate in physical activity especially because the obesity rate in America is increasing every year! It's sad that Physical Education classes are the first to be cut from a budget along with Music and Art. These are the classes that children look forward to durig the day, not science or math but playtime and gym class.
In the high school I attended American Sign Language (ASL) was offered as a course to take. I live near Rochester in western New York which is the largest deaf city in the nation. I thought this course would be beneficial for me because I had run into deaf people all the time. Just after one year of taking the course we attended a deaf play at NTID or National Technical Institute for the Deaf in Rochester. The play was incredible and being around people speaking a new language was fun. After the first year I decided to complete the whole course and take it for three full years. I would have never changed my experiences with this class and my friends. I learned about a new culture and a new life! Participating in this class and also peer leading with special needs children has inspired me to become an Adaptive Physical Education teacher. As I go through my time here at SUNY Cortland, I hope to achieve my goal and also learn the proper teaching techniques needed for these children.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
The Inside and Out of Special Olympics
The Special Olympics is not only a prized organization but also a place for intellectually disabled children to increase their self-esteem and confidence. This organization was formally founded in July 1968 for the first summer games but began in June of 1962. The founder was Eunice Kennedy Shriver, she opened her home to many mentally challenged kids to enjoy physical activities.
The Special Olympics offers a wide variety of activities for children and adults to participate in. The games are held both in summer and winter, with involvement in such sports including kayaking, judo and golf to regular Olympic games such as snowboarding and cycling. By having such a diverse program a great range of children and adults can be included in the games. Recently the founder of the Special Olympics passed away. She was greatly recognized by the organization because of her efforts to start and maintain the program for over forty years! The Special Olympics began with just the United States but has grown to incorporate over one-hundred and eighty countries. The largest gathering of mentally disabled children and adults is the Special Olympics. The last summer Special which were held in July 2008, brought together more than three million athletes. This association is exceptionally beneficial to the children and adults because it is more than just sports for them. This allows the children to escape their everyday lives of being harassed, and embarrassed and gives them the chance to improve their inner confidence.
Many of you may have heard of this organization and what it is about, but what I am curious to know is that did any of you volunteer at a special Olympics near you? Some of my friends were lucky enough to volunteer at a close school hosting the Special Olympics. I wish I could have been given the chance to encourage a child involving sports. The reason I want to become a teacher is because of the look on a child’s face when you help them complete their goal. That look makes all your hard work really seem worth it. To know that you are that person that made their day a little bit easier, makes you feel empowered and fulfilled. For any of you that are also going into the field of education know it’s not about the money or the benefits but what you will learn from your students.
The Special Olympics offers a wide variety of activities for children and adults to participate in. The games are held both in summer and winter, with involvement in such sports including kayaking, judo and golf to regular Olympic games such as snowboarding and cycling. By having such a diverse program a great range of children and adults can be included in the games. Recently the founder of the Special Olympics passed away. She was greatly recognized by the organization because of her efforts to start and maintain the program for over forty years! The Special Olympics began with just the United States but has grown to incorporate over one-hundred and eighty countries. The largest gathering of mentally disabled children and adults is the Special Olympics. The last summer Special which were held in July 2008, brought together more than three million athletes. This association is exceptionally beneficial to the children and adults because it is more than just sports for them. This allows the children to escape their everyday lives of being harassed, and embarrassed and gives them the chance to improve their inner confidence.
Many of you may have heard of this organization and what it is about, but what I am curious to know is that did any of you volunteer at a special Olympics near you? Some of my friends were lucky enough to volunteer at a close school hosting the Special Olympics. I wish I could have been given the chance to encourage a child involving sports. The reason I want to become a teacher is because of the look on a child’s face when you help them complete their goal. That look makes all your hard work really seem worth it. To know that you are that person that made their day a little bit easier, makes you feel empowered and fulfilled. For any of you that are also going into the field of education know it’s not about the money or the benefits but what you will learn from your students.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
The Fundamentals of Wheelchair Basketball
For over sixty years wheelchair basketball has been a widely experienced sport. The National Wheelchair Basketball Association or the NWBA was founded in 1946. Also, what most people know to be the NBA or National Basketball Association was also formed in the same year. Many wheelchair sports formed because of the the injuries of World War II which greatly increased the liking and popularity of wheelchair basketball.
Injuries are widespread throughout the country and when significant damages occur to the human body leaving it sometimes paralyzed, it leaves the victim with decreased mobility and a sense of loneliness. Wheelchair basketball was a way to escape the feeling of being a victim. This in many ways helped sufferers overcome their new lifestyles. There really isn't much difference between basketball and wheelchair basketball. Both are played on the same boundaries and rules, the main difference between the two is that one is played with wheelchairs. There is both a national league for men and women and they compete against countries such as Canada, Australia, and Mexico. This last past Saturday the United States beat Canada 79-69 in overtimes in Vancouver, Canada. This game was not just any game but the gold medal for the win in the 2009 American Cup.
Wheelchair is abundant throughout the country and offers programs for junior varsity teams and young teenagers. The program starts the kids young and produces incredible special athletes. The NWBA follows NCAA rules and regulations almost exactly except for some minor differences for rules based on where the wheelchair is placed on the floor. The NWBA may be the professional side for wheelchair basketball players but just like regular basketball there are pick up games for wheelchair basketball. Many towns have clinics that offer night wheelchair basketball for injured and non-injured players. Sometimes clinics do not have many paralyzed people so sometimes non-injured people do participate in wheelchair basketball. Here at Cortland, we offer many intramural sports such as wheelchair basketball, softball, and even the Turkey Trot some volunteered to "run" the 5K in a wheelchair. When playing these sports the wheelchair is not the same kind of wheelchair that would be used in a hospital. The wheels are faced inward for better steering and also more control for the athlete. Also, the wheelchairs are much more stable than hospital wheelchairs because they're faster and made of stronger material.
In essence, wheelchair basketball is just as easily played as regular basketball for special athletes. Wheelchair basketball can be enjoyed by everyone and is a great upper body physical workout. If you ever get the chance to try this experience at Cortland, I hope you give it a try!
Injuries are widespread throughout the country and when significant damages occur to the human body leaving it sometimes paralyzed, it leaves the victim with decreased mobility and a sense of loneliness. Wheelchair basketball was a way to escape the feeling of being a victim. This in many ways helped sufferers overcome their new lifestyles. There really isn't much difference between basketball and wheelchair basketball. Both are played on the same boundaries and rules, the main difference between the two is that one is played with wheelchairs. There is both a national league for men and women and they compete against countries such as Canada, Australia, and Mexico. This last past Saturday the United States beat Canada 79-69 in overtimes in Vancouver, Canada. This game was not just any game but the gold medal for the win in the 2009 American Cup.
Wheelchair is abundant throughout the country and offers programs for junior varsity teams and young teenagers. The program starts the kids young and produces incredible special athletes. The NWBA follows NCAA rules and regulations almost exactly except for some minor differences for rules based on where the wheelchair is placed on the floor. The NWBA may be the professional side for wheelchair basketball players but just like regular basketball there are pick up games for wheelchair basketball. Many towns have clinics that offer night wheelchair basketball for injured and non-injured players. Sometimes clinics do not have many paralyzed people so sometimes non-injured people do participate in wheelchair basketball. Here at Cortland, we offer many intramural sports such as wheelchair basketball, softball, and even the Turkey Trot some volunteered to "run" the 5K in a wheelchair. When playing these sports the wheelchair is not the same kind of wheelchair that would be used in a hospital. The wheels are faced inward for better steering and also more control for the athlete. Also, the wheelchairs are much more stable than hospital wheelchairs because they're faster and made of stronger material.
In essence, wheelchair basketball is just as easily played as regular basketball for special athletes. Wheelchair basketball can be enjoyed by everyone and is a great upper body physical workout. If you ever get the chance to try this experience at Cortland, I hope you give it a try!
Friday, September 4, 2009
Intro & About Me
I think everyone should be given the chance to participate in sports because it is a very rewarding experience. Sports not only improve your overall physical fitness but also improves self esteem, social skills, and allows you to go outside your comfort zone to try new experiences. I have been involved in sports and other outdoor activities since a young age. The majority of today's generation is highly involved in video games and other electronics, but when I was younger I always wanted to be outside either playing an organized game with my close friends and siblings or just running around just being a kid. I am a sophmore here at SUNY Cortland and my major is Physical Education with a concentration in Adaptive Physical Education. In high school I knew I wanted to become a teacher and I needed sports in my everyday life. I also took an American Sign Language class and this opened my eyes to wanting to teach mentally challenged children and also working with the disabled. Even though, many disabled students feel like they have obstacles to overcome when wanting to participate in sports, this is not the case. Disabled children can be athletes, and be great athletes. Schools offer and are continue to offer more options for children with disabilities. With these writings every week I hope to open your eyes and show many of you that children with disablilites can do everything a non-disabled child can do.
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