Build It So They Can Play: Affordable Equipment for Adapted Physical Education

Brimming with practical ideas, Build It So They Can Play assists physical education teachers, caregivers, and play group and recreation leaders in building adapted equipment and implementing associated activities to create a successful learning environment for students with disabilities.

Build It So They Can Play offers a range of equipment building projects, including equipment to modify participation in typical sports and recreation activities; aid with vestibular and fine motor development; and encourage audio, visual, and tactile stimulation. Every equipment project, from the simplest to the most involved, has been field tested to ensure success by the authors―all veteran adapted physical educators. Step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and detailed photos will help you accomplish each of these DIY projects. Plus, a complete list of materials and a list of necessary tools help you stay organized and save time.

Using inexpensive building supplies and found or recycled items, you can enhance your collection of adapted physical education supplies for a fraction of the cost of new equipment! Make a mobile low basketball goal with a trash can, plywood, and your screwdriver; or turn an umbrella into a sensory mobile. You can even construct your own therapy bed giving students who use wheelchairs the freedom to leave the chair without lying on the floor. And, each project includes additional ideas for use and suggestions for customizing the equipment for various abilities and purposes.

Are tight budgets forcing you to do more with less? With Build It So They Can Play, you can turn less expensive into more fun for your students. Grab your tool belt and start building a positive PE experience for all!

Teresa Sullivan has been teaching students with various disabilities in adapted physical education since 2002 in the North East Independent School District (NEISD) in Texas. She has been an active member of the Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (TAHPERD) since 1998. Teresa has transformed the NEISD Special Olympics program into an exemplary sports program for young adults with special needs. She participates as an Area 20 Special Olympics co-head trainer and is involved in the Area Sports Management Team (ASMT) committee for the San Antonio area. In addition, she has been involved in a state-level games committee for Special Olympics Texas. Many of Teresa's athletes have competed in area, state, and international Special Olympic events. Teresa is well known for her innovation in building equipment. She has presented various workshops addressing how to build equipment for people with special needs. Teresa was awarded the Superintendent's Award for NEISD during 2005-2006 and has been named Coach of the Year and Trainer of the Year for Special Olympics Texas in Area 20.

Cindy Slagle has been an active member of the Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (TAHPERD) since 1992. She has over 30 years of experience teaching adapted physical education and 16 years of service to North East Independent School District (NEISD). Cindy is responsible for leading a team of 14 adapted physical education specialists dedicated to providing testing, development, and placement to children with diverse special needs in 64 schools throughout the district. Cindy was the 2006 recipient of the Texas TAHPERD Adapted Physical Educator of the Year award and the recipient of the 2006-07 Superintendent's Award for NEISD. In February 2007 she received the Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year Award from the Southern District American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. She is a graduate of Kansas State University. Cindy has presented numerous district in-service workshops and has been a presenter at more than 30 state and national conferences, most notably the National Conference on Physical Activity for Exceptional Learners, New York State AHPERD, the National AAHPERD Conference, and the Midwest Symposium of Therapeutic Recreation and Physical Activities. Cindy receives great satisfaction sharing her experiences with her colleagues while expanding her knowledge base.

Thelma (T.J.) Hapshie is a nationally certified adapted physical education teacher with more than 40 years of experience working with people with developmental, physical, and emotional disabilities in institutional settings, recreation centers, and group homes.

Hapshie invented and patented a device that provides auditory cues to assist visually impaired people in participating in bowling. In 2009 she was named Adapted Physical Educator of the Year by the Texas Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (TAHPERD). Hapshie was also named the 2011 Recreation Professional of the Year by TAHPERD.

Vic Brevard has been an educator since 1989. He coached football, basketball, track, and tennis for 8 years (4 years with Refugio Independent School District and 4 years in Ft. Bend Independent School District in Texas). He was the middle school sport coordinator at both school districts and was and the team leader for the Alief ISD adapted physical education program. Vic is the recipient of the 2008 Texas TAHPERD Adapted Physical Educator of the Year Award.

Debbie Brevard taught for 28 years. She started out in Andrews at the high school, where she was the cheerleader coach. After moving to Refugio, she coached high school volleyball, middle school basketball, and track. Debbie was the head track coach and assistant volleyball coach at Kempner High School in Ft. Bend, Texas. She then worked as an elementary physical education teacher. She taught adapted physical education for five years.