On Friday, May 3, The New England Center for Children (NECC) hosted the annual Adapted Physical Education Conference of the Massachusetts Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (MAHPERD). The theme of this year’s conference was “Adapt-ABILITY!”
The one-day professional development conference was attended by 60 physical education professionals from across Massachusetts to discuss best practices in adapted PE curriculum and techniques for children with autism spectrum and other disorders.
NECC staff, who are well trained in adaptive physical education strategies for children with autism, provided instruction in adapted swimming, yoga, and physical education classes. Kristen Sidman, MEd, MS, OTR/L, and Phil Leonard, MS, hosted a discussion on aquatics programming for students with ASD and NECC’s approach to this discipline. Attendees had the opportunity to attend more than a dozen sessions overall and were able to view an adapted swimming class at NECC’s Michael S. Dukakis Aquatic Center.
External presenters included Jody Duff, SHAPE America’s Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year 2018, and MAHPERD APE Vice Presidents, Nicole Wassell and Eric Chase.
About MAPHERD
MAHPERD, the Massachusetts Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance is a non-profit organization for professionals and students dedicated to the physical education program and professional development, research, and industry leadership. MAHPERD promotes liaisons with allied organizations and memberships in Eastern District Association (EDA) and Shape America. http://www.ma-hperd.org/