Adapted PE
Category: Assessment

How do I know which assessment tool to use when determining if a student qualifies for APE? I've looked at the popular scales used for assessing students with disabilities, but which do I use? Where do I start?

This is an excellent question. First, it is not the tool that determines a child's unique motor needs. It is assessment data in areas suspected to be issues (suspected disability). Then once data are collected you analyze it and take to the IEP committee to decide what the child needs and where these needs can be met (such as an integrated class with supports or a separate class).

I recommend that you first consider your purpose,which is to diagnose a child's potential unique motor needs. Then the age of the child needs to be considered. Younger kids ages 3-10 can be assessed in gross motor patterns by the Test of Gross Motor Development. This is a good tool to see if the child has adequate locomotor and object control skills. These will be critical for safe and successful participation in an elementary curriculum.

If a child is older, such as in middle school, then I recommend content referenced assessments that give you information on how the child will perform in a general physical education class such as game performance assessment inventory that measures a child's skill and strategic knowledge in a game type setting. This is from the Teaching games for understanding approach by Mitchell, Oslin, & Griffin.

In the end, you don't just base your decision on the data, these data that you collect allow you to discuss at the IEP meeting potential needs, then when all is done, where these needs can best be met.

Start with data collection that suits your purpose, reflects the skills that you know are needed for physical education (based on the child's age) and then rely on the committee process to determine what goals are relevant and where these can best be met.

Last modified date: 9/14/2010

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