Schools
Troy Students Learn About Sports Disabilities Awareness
"PE Takeover Day" a two-day event at Troy Middle School
Photo: Troy Middle School students play “goalball” while wearing blocking glasses to experience what people with visual difficulties might go through. Clockwise from left: Bella Avila, Ava Goodwin, Linh Truong and Erika Avila.
Troy Middle School students recently experienced how it might feel to play sports if they were disabled.
The Troy District 30-C school held a “PE Takeover Day,” inviting Lincolnway Special Recreation Association to its physical education classes to lead students in various adaptive sports.
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The Troy students played wheelchair basketball, sit volleyball and goalball.
“I believe our students learned a lot by being exposed to these activities,” Troy Middle School P.E. teacher Kelly Papesh said. “One thing they learned is that we all have to find ways to work with what we have.”
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According to LWSRA Adapted Athletics Coach Christa McDonough, using the sport wheelchairs and other equipment allowed the students to experience sports the way someone with a disability might.
“Lincolnway Special Recreation Association PE Take-Over Days allows us to reach out to the youth in the community in order to build a better understanding and acceptance of those with physical or developmental disabilities,” McDonough said. “This is a high interaction day that consists of each gym period learning about various adapted sports and actively participating in each one. Students learn the limitations and freedoms that our athletes with disabilities experience while competing in sports.”
After participating in the adapted sports, eighth-graders Kendall Adelmann and Aubrey DiGiovine said it was harder than they thought it would be. Kendall said the wheelchair basketball was particularly challenging, and Aubrey said goalball, where the students were “blinded” by blocking glasses or blindfolds, was not easy, either.
Lincolnway Special Recreation Association provides opportunities for children and adults with disabilities. For more information, visit www.lwsra.org.
