School P.E. Advice Needed......accommodations??

[Lives4Disney]

Hi, I have a 10 yr old 5th grade daughter that has low vision. She enjoys PE and has for years, but this year has had a decline in her vision and we have had to request that for certain activities (basketball & volleyball in particular)that she be excused. The PE teacher's solution is to have her read a book in the hallway. My DD is OK with that for those sports because she has been really hurt in the past several years by flying objects and kids bumping into her or she bumping them. She doesn't feel safe during these activities and is afraid.

Well, things have kind of come to a head now since we have asked for this. BTW, her report card of last week said WA (with accommodations, but is putting her in the hallway really an accommodation ) The PE teacher includes her in class games, but keeps her basically in a corner out of the way in an empty position. That's her solution which really hurts DD's feelings. She WANTS to be included if it's a safer game, but the PE teacher is thinking black and white and nothing in between. Even her classmates have pointed out to the PE teacher that **** has been in the same position for too long and the PE teacher says to everybody, "That's OK, **** is fine there". She comes home so sad and feels very left out and kind of humiliated.

Please don't flame me for whining. Maybe I just needed to vent to some people that may understand. It is tough getting used to living with her disability for everyone involved. As her vision declines we know she will be able to participate less and less, but it is hard to accept that there is nothing in between for the teacher to do for her other than exclude her. Anybody else in this boat have any ideas?? The PE teacher is so creative and comes up with such fun, original games it is hard to believe she is this dull about any fun my DD can have in her class.

If you have any advice, that'd be great. My DD has an IEP and will be entering Jr. High next fall.....we have a Dr. that agrees to write a note to either limit her activities for next year or be excused from PE, but he also suggested she not be left out for everything as exercise is a good thing and we agree. Just looking for a compromise.

I wanted to add that the kids are having a quidditch (probably spelled wrong) in gym and the kids were willing to have my DD participate in a more active way, but the teacher nixed it. Two kids were actually "in charge" of team positions and the teacher had them change **** out of playing the fun position. Something just seems wrong with that.

Thanks for "listening" & maybe helping. I need to contact that PE teacher tomorrow and talk about this situation.

Lives4Disney

 

[Forevryoung]

Hmmmm I don't have any experience in the low vision area.

Does the teacher understand what your daughter can and cant see? Like if they are playing kickball with a bright large red kickball can she see it? Would it be easier for her to see a bright yellow softball instead of a white one? I don't know what your kids do in gym but I would start by making sure the teacher knows your daughters strengths. Additionally, if I remember your posts correctly, your daughter is getting better at speaking up for herself. Maybe this would be a good situation where you tell the teacher to ask your daughter if she feels comfortable doing x or y. I bet she has a better idea of things than anyone else in terms of her own comfort and safety.

If the kids are doing run around activities can the teacher incorporate more "noise"- like having the kids say "I got it" (like what you are supposed to do in vollyball to reduce collisions ) or calling out names to make sure your daughter can localize where the ball or event is taking place.

Good luck to you and your daughter- maybe instead of sitting in the hallway, she could sit in the library?

 

[Lives4Disney]

Thanks for the reply. The PE teacher is aware of her visual difficulties. DH and I were talking about the situation and we both absolutely agree that the teacher should ASK DD about her comfort level with certain different activities and more leave it up to DD. DD is a very very good speaker with a large vocabulary and has always been able to verbalize things extremely well. Really one of her many strong points. Her trouble is she is very scared of certain teachers. She is getting more able to speak up for herself, but has kind of always been intimidated by this gym teacher. I think because the teacher didn't seem to "get it" that a kid with visual difficulties may have problems being on the receiving end of a valleyball and other situations like that. I think DD felt kind of like PE teacher KNEW about her eyes and didn't care enough to keep her safe & that made it tougher to approach her with her feelings and fears.

DH is going to phone her tomorrow and suggest more open communication with DD. I appreciate you ideas for PE. Since she put "WA" on her report card, seems there should be some - and your ideas are interesting. They talked about getting balls that jingled or whistled, but never did. Yes, the library does sound better. I thought it was kind of strange to just put her in the hallway, but that's the gym teacher.

Lives4Disney

 

[Forevryoung]

Write it in her IEP- then you have them by the balls (sorry for the joke, I couldn't resist)

Sounds like you have a good idea of what should be happening. I would also add that maybe you can ask the gym teacher what her reasons are. Gym with acommodations does not mean sitting out- actually I would bet that what the teacher is doing is "illegal". Modifications should be made as much as possible instead of excluding your daughter (which I know you and your husband agree with). I would start wondering why they arent being made...

 

[Lives4Disney]

Write it in her IEP- then you have them by the balls (sorry for the joke, I couldn't resist)

Sounds like you have a good idea of what should be happening. I would also add that maybe you can ask the gym teacher what her reasons are. Gym with acommodations does not mean sitting out- actually I would bet that what the teacher is doing is "illegal". Modifications should be made as much as possible instead of excluding your daughter (which I know you and your husband agree with). I would start wondering why they arent being made...

THanks for the replies. I'd love to have them by the balls. I have an older son (A GREAT, smart KID) with ADD that has suffered for years thru school because his impairment is so vague to them......this vision disability of DD's is there, it is fact, and it is absolutely not vague or open for denial.

You are just validating what we have felt for a while. Thanks because this is new territory for us and it helps to get input.

Lives4Disney

 

[BeckyScott]

I am not taking the side of the gym teacher, let me point that out right up front.

But it may be that the teacher is hesitant because of liability. Just a thought. The teacher is afraid that your daughter will be playing a game and get hurt and you'll sue the school and you'll probably win because the school knew she had vision problems and the teacher will get fired, etc etc. Or maybe if she's already gotten hurt in gym, the administration got on the teacher and said not to let it happen any more because of the liability. Or it could be that the teacher never had any training in how to handle mainstreaming special needs kids and has no clue what to do with her. Right, wrong, or otherwise, that's probably what's going on. The teacher is getting her physically as far away from the activity as possible, while still being able to supervise her.

Oh, yeah, get it in the IEP. Depending on the maturity of your daughter, if she is able to make the call between "safe" and "not safe" and if you release them from some of the liability, that right there might make a big difference in how it's handled.

I dunno. When I was in middle school and broke my toe and couldn't do gymnastics, they let me go to the library instead, I didn't have to hang in the corner and watch. Since I hated gym, I was fine with that.

 

[Lives4Disney]

I am not taking the side of the gym teacher, let me point that out right up front.

But it may be that the teacher is hesitant because of liability. Just a thought. The teacher is afraid that your daughter will be playing a game and get hurt and you'll sue the school and you'll probably win because the school knew she had vision problems and the teacher will get fired, etc etc. Or maybe if she's already gotten hurt in gym, the administration got on the teacher and said not to let it happen any more because of the liability. Or it could be that the teacher never had any training in how to handle mainstreaming special needs kids and has no clue what to do with her. Right, wrong, or otherwise, that's probably what's going on. The teacher is getting her physically as far away from the activity as possible, while still being able to supervise her.

Oh, yeah, get it in the IEP. Depending on the maturity of your daughter, if she is able to make the call between "safe" and "not safe" and if you release them from some of the liability, that right there might make a big difference in how it's handled.

I dunno. When I was in middle school and broke my toe and couldn't do gymnastics, they let me go to the library instead, I didn't have to hang in the corner and watch. Since I hated gym, I was fine with that.

I totally understand your point about liability. The thing is, DD has had this teacher since Kindergarden and we found out about her vision loss in 1st grade - she is now in 5th. (In 1st grade she had tunnel vision/night blindness with some blind spots and it has gradually declined) The teacher has known since we found out, yet had her participating and EXPECTED her to participate no matter. I thought the same as you - about their liability - and the school staff is so wonderful to her and looks out for her, so really this treatment of her was really surprising. DD thought she could/should just take it and she is respectful and thought since this teacher KNEW of the vision issue she should do as she's told. Things just must have gotten bad enough for her to say something to us.

I just want things to improve for her and for next yr when she enters a new school for Jr. High where she'll have PE every single day. PE is BIG here and the kids are expected to participate unless they're at death's door. When DD had her foot broken PE teacher kept complaining that it was taking too long for her foot to heal!!! (It took about 6 to 8 wks) She kept wanting updated notes from the Orthopedic Dr.!!! (Like DD was faking )

There will be some things DD just cannot do the same as other kids. I just think they should have some accommodations for her to be able to participate normally as much as possible. ??? We are having an IEP meeting for next yr in a couple weeks and we need to add some kind of PE accommodations.

DH did call the PE teacher to follow up and she was sweet as sugar to him. She acted like she had no idea DD was struggling and wanted to participate more. DH let her know DD would appreciate having some input in her level of participation and DH asked her to please ASK DD how she feels. They worked it out for now, but we shall see.....They didn't even talk accommodations other than communication.


THANKS!

Lives4Disney

 

[Disneymoon]

Does your daughter receive services from a vision specialist/visually impaired teacher at her school? Maybe that person could help the PE teacher adapt what is happening in PE for your daughter.

Also, at your next IEP meeting you could see if an adaptive physical education teacher (APE teacher) is available for consultation with your child's PE teacher.

I am a elementary special education teacher and have used both of these services for my students. Hope this helps! All children should have the opportunity to participate in activities, IMO

 

[JulieWent]

Does your district have adaptive PE services? Certainly that is one possible answer. Of course, if you want your daughter included into regular activities, that's not the only answer. But the adaptive PE teacher could work with the regular PE teacher to see to it that there were appropriate activities for your daughter in PE. Look at it this way: If her language arts teacher just put her in the corner and did not include her in the activities, would that be appropriate? It is no more appropriate for that to happen in PE than it is for it to happen in language arts, math, social studies, etc. All teachers (with the help of special education faculty) must make the appropriate accommodations to teach their content. (And I'm a teacher, so I'm not just ranting about "them.")

Julie

 

[Talking Hands]

It is inappropriate to place a child in the hall where she is unsupervised. In our district it is not allowed period.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Thanks for the ideas. I have never heard of adaptive PE teachers, so I bet we don't have any. I will ask, though!

My DD has two vision itinerants. She has one for Braille and keyboarding and technology etc. and another for cane training and mobility. They will be at her IEP meeting. They are great ladies and very inspirational for DD. I don't know why nobody was aware of this odd PE situation. I think it just slid by because DD is not a complainer and it wasn't brought to attention.

I am not feeling frustrated anymore. Thanks for the replies & ideas. As long as the PE teacher has an open mind and communicates with DD and is flexible I think things will be OK this year. Plus, now that we know there are issues we will be on top of things. We will really have to get her IEP ready for next fall and that meeting happens in two weeks.

Thanks,

Lives4Disney