Adapted Physical Education Lab

The Adapted Physical Education Lab, established in 1994, is a collaboration between the Department of Sport Science and Wellness Education and the Akron Public Schools.  It is sponsored by  USTA Serves. 

The Lab provides an opportunity for candidates majoring in physical education and exercise science to engage in a clinical experience with children with disabilities (Downs Syndrome, muscular dystrophy, and cerebral palsy, among others).  Working with these children provides our teacher candidates with a challenging yet rewarding experience.  They learn what it's like to teach developmentally appropriate physical activities to children of varying abilities, as well as within the context of the child's disability. By doing so, the future physical education teachers and exercise science specialists will be better prepared to meet the needs of all children.

The lab runs for 10 weeks each semester.  To appeal to the interest of all participating students, a variety of activities is provided, including teaching of tennis skills in the gymnasium and with use of the Nintendo Wii tennis game, and aquatics activities in the pool.