Practicum Experience

Dept of Physical Education and Sport

 

Goals

The CMU's Department of Physical Education and Sport has a goal to develop more opportunities for GIRESD students and to help address the individualized needs of children who have gross motor developmental delays.

 

General Information

In 2002, a partnership was developed between the Gratiot-Isabella RESD and CMU's Physical Education Department. This partnership addresses the individual needs of students who have gross motor developmental delays. The Adapted Physical Education Program is an program for K-12 students who get to learn developmental activities, exercises, games and sports designed to meet the unique physical educational needs of students with disabilities. The students meet for two hours each Friday during the school year. The Adapted Physical Education Program modifies a physical activity so it is as appropriate for the person with a disability as it is for a person without a disability.

 

Student Activities

There are currently 55 CMU students that work in the Practicum Experience. Each Friday, the GIRESD students visit the Student Activity Center (SAC) and alternate between three activities; swimming, bowling and turf experience. In swimming, students learn stroke development, play skills and exercise skills. In bowling, students learn to take turns, set up pins, as well as rules and techniques to get the pins to fall. In the turf room, students play with stimulating toys that enhance the range of motion and increase sensory stimulation.

 

Lifelong Skills

The GIRESD students get to develop a positive relationship with age appropriate non-disabled peers. The students learn that they are more "alike" than "different." They see that we can all enjoy the same activities and that we share some of the same hurdles together. The GIRESD students get to learn lifelong skills and have the opportunity to work with CMU students and develop close relationships with them.

 

Contact

 

Judy Chandler

Student Activity Center 196

Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859

Phone: (989) 774-2011

Email: chand1jp@cmich.edu   

 

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The Bridges Center for Healthy Life Transitions | Liana M. Bachand, Director (989-774-1274)

2103 Health Professions Building, Central Michigan University | Phone 989-774-2341 | Fax 989-774-2405 | bridges@cmich.edu