Adapted Physical Education (APE)

What is Adapted PE?

The art and science of assessment and prescription within the psychomotor domain ensure that an individual with a disability has access to programs designed to develop physical and motor fitness, fundamental motor skills and patterns and skill in aquatics, dance and sports so that the individual can ultimately participate in community based leisure, recreation and sport activities and enjoy an enhanced quality of life.

It is a diversified program of physical education having the same goals and objectives as regular physical education, but modified when necessary to meet the unique need of each individual. Students are given appropriate placement within the LEAST RESTRICTIVE environment in accordance with Public Law 94-142, P.L. 101-476 the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the subsequent reauthorization of the law in 1997.

The Adapted PE teacher is a direct service provider, not a related service provider, because special physical education is a federally mandated component of special education services (U.S.C.A. 140(25)). This means that physical education needs to be provided to the student with a disability as part of the child's special education.