Physical education is the art of developing and maintaining healthy physical fitness to groom an adaptive athlete. The practice consists of activities designed to develop and maintain individuals’ abilities. It also helps improve skills, capacities, and knowledge necessary for engaging in physical activity.
Physical education is essential for all children as it provides them a fun and enjoyable way to exercise their bodies.
What Does Adaptive Athlete Education Offer?
Adaptive physical education (APE) is a specialized area of physical education that offers various services to individuals with disabilities, developmental delays, and other special needs.
According to the National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities (NCPEID), there are two types of adaptive physical education teachers. They include the following:
- One type is the physical educator who has been prepared to work with students with disabilities through their normal four-year degree program in PE
- The second type is a licensed teacher who has pursued additional k-12 certification in Adapted Physical Education
Adaptive Physical Education Certification
What is adaptive physical education certification? This physical education certification is a way to help people with disabilities learn more about the world and how to improve their lives.
It also helps them become more independent, so they can participate in activities that used to be reserved only for non-disabled people.
Many schools offer this type of training because it benefits everyone involved and structures specialized programs for people with special needs.
Types of Adaptive Physical Education (APE)
Adaptive physical education (APE) is a specialized area of physical education that offers various services to individuals with disabilities. It also includes developmental delays and other special needs.
APE teachers work with children with physical or learning disabilities and motor skill delays. This helps prepare them for participation in regular classroom activities. Below are the different types of adaptive physical education available:
Physical Activity
Activities involving movement are the primary means for motivating the student’s interest level in learning new skills. Children may participate in an entire day’s worth of activities during one session if they need additional encouragement during that time period.
Recreation
This term refers to fun games such as tag or “Duck Duck Goose,” and traditional team sports like soccer/football teams made up entirely of special-needs students.
Independent Living Skills
Independent living skills involve teaching students how they can become more independent while remaining within the boundaries set by their parents or guardians.
Occupational Therapy
This therapy focuses on helping those with disabilities gain access to jobs outside their home environment. This is done through specialized equipment designed specifically for people with disabilities.
APE Certification for an Adaptive Athlete
In most states, APE certification extends the general PE teaching credential when training an adaptive athlete. However, some states have separate Adapted PE Endorsements or Certificates issued by special education departments rather than PE departments at a university/college level.
The difference between these two types of endorsements and certificates can be confusing for people that are new to this field. While it’s true that they all involve coursework and testing to receive them (which we’ll get into later).
There are some key differences between them that everyone needs to know before deciding which one will work best for their needs!
Can you practice without an adaptive athlete fitness certificate?
Certifications are needed mainly for trainers who’ve interested in building a career in adaptive fitness training. Not having a certificate can make it difficult to find a job, especially if you’re starting your career.
Even with seasoned practitioners who’ve been in the industry for a long time, certification is a major requirement. Without an adaptive physical education certification, you might encounter some of the following:
1. No Insurance Benefits
Being certified in an industry is one of the biggest advantages of working in that industry. You get insurance benefits and a chance to interact with clients who the certifying body has screened. So they’re less likely to sue you or sustain injuries while training, and if they do, the insurance provider can settle any bills, as long as you’re accredited!
Failure to get certified means that the client can sue you for damages when someone gets hurt during the training. In this case, you’ll be expected to cover any damages and risk getting fired.
2. Fewer Hiring Chances
Most job opportunities and fitness companies will prioritize trainers who can show documentation of their skills, experience, and education. Getting certified gives your employers a sense of security that their clients are safe under your training.
Tips for Choosing the Ideal Adaptive Athlete Certification Program
There are various adaptive sport jobs that require candidates to have special training. Here are a few tips to help you choose the right certification program for people preparing to work with adaptive athletes:
Benefits of Certification
Certification is a good way to demonstrate your knowledge and skills. If you want to become a teacher or work in the field of education, then having an accredited certificate can help you get hired. You will also be able to apply for grants and scholarships only available for certified teachers.
Costs of Certification
The average cost per year for an individual who wants to take this course is around $1,000-USD 2,000 (USD). However, suppose you are a part-time student. In that case, some financial assistance may be available through your local community college system. It can also be available through state/federal government programs such as TAP (Teacher Advancement Program).
What are the best adaptive athlete physical education certifications?
While there are many types of physical education certifications, some are more popular than others. Consider which type would be most beneficial for you and your career goals before deciding on one. Choose a certification program that best fits your needs and interests. Some are as follows:
1. Special Strong Certification
The Special Needs Adaptive certification program provides training and education on how to work with special needs or adaptive athletes. Generally, the program is by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and provides instruction in the following areas:
- How to recruit, select, assign or accommodate students who have a disability;
- How to work effectively with coaches, administrators, and parents;
It might also cover how your school can serve students with disabilities through adaptive physical education programs.
2. Adaptive Training Academy Certification
Adaptive Training Academy offers education through a supervised online certificate program and extra-specialty professional courses. This collection of flexible and inclusion-specific exercise instruction offers a thorough selection of information and useful techniques. This establishes the benchmark for trainer certification in these fields.
You should use ATA certification and certification programs as the foundation of your education in adaptive fitness. One can obtain the Adaptive & Inclusive Trainer (AIT) Certification through coursework and passing the qualifying examination. This certified program is offered in two different web-based format options (4-Week Directed Cohort | Self-Paced). In addition to a physical, two-day workshop style.
All methods offer evaluation education certifications that thoroughly explain the adaptive exercise technique, safety precautions, and service delivery. These methods include:
- ATA certification and certificate courses are appropriate as your base of adaptive fitness education
- The Adaptive & Inclusive Trainer (AIT) Certification can be earned through course study and the passing of the certification exam
3. Autism Fitness Certification
Autism fitness certification is a non-profit organization that offers certifications to those trained to perform the physical activities and exercises necessary for people with autism.
The requirements for this certification include the following:
- Passing an online test
- Completing a two-year training program
Meanwhile, the benefits of being able to get this adaptive athlete fitness certification include the following:
- Have a list of physical activities you can perform at home or in your community. (such as dancing)
- Access to resources and information about how to handle best practices by other families dealing with similar issues as yours. This includes what kinds of equipment would be best for them.
4. ACSM-Certified Inclusive Trainers
ACSM is a professional association that provides certification for fitness trainers. The organization was founded in 1980 and had over 240,000 members worldwide. ACSM’s mission is to “develop, disseminate and implement research-based guidelines promoting the improvement of health through physical activity.”
Generally, ACSM certifications are awarded based on their knowledge base, experience level, and ability to pass an exam. As a result, they also require additional training before applying for certification.
For example, suppose you want to become an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer (CPT). In that case, you’ll need at least two years of experience and pass an exam administered by the Association of Certified Coaches (ACC).
5. Manitoba Adaptive Fitness Specialist Certification
This course is for individuals who want to become specialists in adaptive athlete fitness. Therefore, it’s perfect for people with no experience in adaptive training. This course is for adults of 18 years and above. The training is to help nurture the necessary skills and provide wellness support to all sorts of people with special needs.
As a result of finishing this course, expect to be able to provide customized programs for your adaptive athletes and adapt the exercise programs for each specific disability.
Conclusion
There are various options available for adaptive athlete physical education certification. Hence, you should ensure that the programs you’re considering are right for you. For people who’ll be working with adaptive athletes, you need the correct training. This is to ensure you’re qualified to handle their various cases.
If you want to become certified in your area of specialization, check out our list of certifications. See what we have to offer! Reach out to a local branch to get certified today and get a massive 50% off!