Adapted PE
Category: Down Syndrome

I have a third grade girl with Down Syndrome. She is very far behind the other students in her class. What can I do to help her? She most often refuses to work with us and will sit down and yell and scream when we try to get her up to do any physical activity.

Try functional behavior assessments. Specifically, info on this can be found at http://cecp.air.org/fba/default.asp.

I am a big advocate of using this process and also other aspects of behavior shaping. Keep in mind that with this process you may have some difficulties getting her to do many activities at first, but with some shaping and some study of why this student is acting out, you may find long term solutions to not only therapy but other educational outcomes. My best advice with this is to keep in mind that what is personally satisfying is repeated and what is adverse is avoided.

Last modified date: 9/13/2010

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