The APE 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. 1402(25)].
Special Education - The term 'special education' means specially
designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique
needs of an individual with a disability, including:
(a) Physical and motor fitness;
What is Adaptive Physical Education?
Adapted physical education is the art and science of developing and
implementing a carefully designed physical education instructional
program for an individual with a disability, based on a comprehensive
assessment, to give the individual the skills necessary for a lifetime
of rich leisure, recreation, and sport experiences.
(Auxter, D., Pyfer, J. & Huettig, C. Principles and Methods of Adapted
Physical Education, McGraw-Hill, 9th edition, in press).
Who is an Adapted Physical Education Teacher?
The adapted physical education teacher (APE) is the person
responsible for developing an appropriate physical education plan for
individuals with disabilities. The APE teacher is a physical educator
with highly specialized training in the assessment and evaluation of
motor competency, physical fitness, play, and leisure, recreation and
sport skills. The APE teacher has the skills necessary to develop an
individualized physical education program and to implement the
program.
and institutions, and in other settings and
The federal regulations define physical education as "the
development of:
(b) Fundamental motor skills and patterns; and
(c) Skills in aquatics, dance, individual and group games, and sports
(including intramural and lifetime sports)". [34 C.F.R. 300.13 (b)
(9)]
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