Theme: Inclusive Physical Education, Sports & Recreation for Individuals with Special Needs
Presenters and Chairperson
Sock Miang TEO-KOH, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Physical Education & Sports Science
Nanyang Technological University
SINGAPORE
Sock M. Teo-Koh is an experienced educator with over 20 years of teacher education experience in Singapore. She has previously served as Vice-Dean/School of Physical Education, Associate Dean/Physical Education Programs and Head/Physical Education & Sports Science Department at the National Institute of Education (NIE).
Dr Teo-Koh is an elected Executive Committee member of the Singapore National Olympic Council, Principal/Singapore Olympic Academy, Co-Chair/Singapore Sports Council Women & Sport Group and Vice-President/Singapore Hockey Federation. A Special Olympics volunteer since 1986, Dr Teo-Koh is currently the President of Special Olympics Singapore. Internationally, she served as a member of the World Games Evaluation Team for the 1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games and a member of the Special Olympics International Rules Committee. Dr Teo-Koh is a certified Special Olympics Asia–Pacific Regional Trainer. She has conducted numerous training programs in the Asia-Pacific region and has assisted new Special Olympics programs in the training of volunteer coaches.
Accessibility of Community Sports Facilities for Persons with Physical Disabilities in Singapore
Ruth Koh & Sock Miang Teo-Koh, Ph.D.
National Institute of Education
Nanyang Technological University
SINGAPORE
Abstract. Recent attention on the importance of sports for national building and pride, social integration and the health and wellness of people in Singapore has led to the formation of the Sports Culture Committee in 2006. The Committee’s vision of an inclusive sporting culture can only be achieved if all sports and recreation facilities in Singapore are accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.
Research shows that access to fitness and recreation facilities is a major barrier to physical activity for people with disabilities. This study examined the accessibility of community sports and recreation centres for people with disabilities in Singapore. The Accessibility Instruments Measuring Fitness and Recreation Environments (AIMFREE) was used to measure accessibility to the built environment and equipment in 3 sports and recreation centres. Data from this study may be used to improve accessibility standards of community sports facilities in Singapore for people with disabilities.
Innovative Education Approaches for Students with Disabilities in APA
Shihui CHEN, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Division of Physical Education, CAPE
The Hong Kong Institute of Education
HONG KONG, CHINA
Abstract. Today, the movement of inclusion of children with disabilities in regular schools has affected many children with disabilities being transferred from special education school into regular school settings (Block, 1994; Crawford & Bray, 1994). However, feedbacks from different countries regarding inclusion practice were still in controversy in many Asian countries because of different cultural backgrounds, economic conditions, educational systems, and policies that influence the development of special education. The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors influencing educating students with disabilities in special education in Asian countries, and provide innovative education approaches for students with disabilities in APA.
Two data sources were used for analyses and comparisons for this study, results of the first data source indicated that HK is closely following the international trend to integrate students with disabilities into regular school settings through whole school approach. Meanwhile, the development of separate special educational setting also continues to gain its momentum to cater students’ special need at the separate settings, and the rate of development is even faster than integration mode (Figure 1). Results of the second data source indicated that in addition to government policies, positive attitudes and lack of special education training from current teachers and students at teacher preparation program are the important factors that influence educating students with disabilities in regular setting. Results of this study may have implicated that while special education program in HK is moving toward including students with disabilities into regular school settings, currently three modes of special education being operated in HK are appropriate to meet parents’ right to have choices to determine their children’s education. It is also found from published studies that some teachers lack of training to provide appropriate education to meet students’ unique needs in regular school settings. The study argued that administrators and teachers must carefully select an appropriate mode based on their school’s situations to educate students with disabilities in regular settings. For those schools that are currently promoting an integrated or inclusion program, learning environment (such as: peers, parents’ attitude and teachers’ knowledge; support services) must be well prepared before including students with disabilities into the setting. Without well prepared support services (e.g., teaching assistant or other accommodations) students with disabilities will not benefit from these educational environments. Finally, guidelines and suggestions on the preparation of learning environment for integrating students with disabilities in the regular school settings were also described.
Dr. Shihui Chen earned his M.S. Degree in Adapted Physical Education from the University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse, and the PhD Degree in Adapted Physical Education from the University of New Mexico, USA. Dr. Chen was a tenure associate professor and a Graduate Faculty Member at the University of Texas Pan American before he went to Hong Kong Institute Education. He is currently an associate professor and deputy division head at the Department of Creative Arts and Physical Education at HKIEd. He is the Secretary General of Asian Council of Exercise and Sports Science. Dr. Chen’s research interests are in adapted physical education, information technology in education, and biomechanics of Paralympics Sports. Dr. Chen has published numbers of research articles in Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly and other referred journals.
Current situation of inclusive physical education in Japan
Kensuke IWAOKA
Kensuke IWAOKA
Associate Professor
Graduate School of Medicine & Pharmaceutical Science for Research
University of Toyama
JAPAN
Abstract. Physical education for the disabled children had been conducted mainly in the school for the disabled in Japan. Mildly disabled children had been enrolled into special classes or regular classes in local public schools, and especially in physical education, most of these children had been isolated from regular class and there had been little opportunity to have an inclusive physical activity. Although the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has started special needs education in local public schools in 2006, teachers are still likely to keep their distance from inclusive physical education. This presentation will outline the current situation of inclusive physical education in Japan, and suggests a helpful clue for developing it.
Assoc. Prof. Iwaoka is a member of the Japan Paralympic Committee’s Scientific Committee, a Board member of the Japanese Society for Adapted Physical Education and Exercise and Asian Society for Adapted Physical Education and Exercise. His academic interests are in Health & Exercise Sciences, Developmental Kinesiology, Gerontology and Adapted Physical Activity.
The Problem and Direction of Sports & Recreational for Individuals with Disabilities
Jitae Kim,
Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Sport
& Leisure Studies
School of Sport Science, Dankook University
KOREA
Abstract. Physical activities and sports programs for people with disabilities should guarantee the basic rights and the opportunity to participate voluntarily. Also breaking from past programs which centered in the therapy and the skill acquisition, a new approach which can contribute to the independent living and the social inclusion of people with disabilities, is required. The paradigm of sports policy for people with disabilities has been changing its direction toward to put more emphasis on the technology-combined instruction and the decision making by themselves (Reid, 2001). It also coincides with the core concept of the independent living and the idea that people with disabilities should make their own decisions and control their own lives. The consumerism that puts the choices and decisions of the consumer ahead of any other aspects, is becoming the main stream in the welfare policy for people with disabilities. Therefore, to keep up with the flow, it is crucial to support the disabled in every aspects of physical activities and sports such as facilities, instructors, and programs, so they can participate and make choices for themselves. In addition to that, it should be mentioned that the sports policy should be centered around sporting sports in lifetime, which is not the case yet in our society (we are still pursuing elite sports). However, in many developed countries, the policy for sports in lifetime has already been established and every society members, young or old, man or woman, disabled or not, have benefited from it (The national council of sports for all in Korea, 2003). In other words, it means that there is no discrimination against people with disabilities. The basic ideology of sports for everybody supports the idea that everybody has a right to fulfill physical, emotional, and social desire through sports and therefore we need to provide the major basis of physical activities and sports for people with disabilities. In this paper and presentation, I will look into the changes in sports and welfare policy on the premise that it is crucial for people with disabilities to participate in sports in lifetime to live healthy life. Also the problems and possible solutions in the physical activities and sports for people with disabilities will be examined.
Dr. Ji-Tae Kim serves as a professor and graduate coordinator of the College of Sport Science at Dankook University, Korea. He received Masters Degree from Yonsei University (1995, Korea) and Michigan State University (1999, USA). He also held a PhD in the Department of Kinesiology from Michigan State University (2003, USA). His research interests include lifetime/recreational sports for people with disabilities and motor development for children and youth with developmental disabilities. Dr. Kim has published several articles and books focused on the topics of adapted physical education and motor development. He has presented papers and posters in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and USA. He is a current member and executive committee of the Korean Society of Adapted Physical Activity & Exercise and the Korean Sport Alliance for the Disabled.
