Adaptive Physical Education Activities for Children With Diverse Needs
Written by:
Wilson College
• Sep 19, 2025
Physical inactivity in children has been a pressing issue for American educators and parents for decades. However, according to a 2024 analysis of existing scientific literature on the issue published in the journal Healthcare, children with diverse needs are much less likely to get enough physical activity than their peers.
This issue doesn’t just affect children’s physical health. It can negatively impact everything from socialization to cognition. By implementing adaptive physical education practices, educators can ensure that all students receive the well-rounded development they need.
For future professionals considering a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Special Education and experienced educators considering a Master of Special Education , here are a few adaptive physical activities to investigate and employ.
What Is Adaptive Physical Education?
Adaptive physical education, or adaptive PE, is any PE curriculum designed specifically for children with diverse needs. It can include basic exercise, games, and sports. Activities should foster the development of physical and motor skills, as well as basic actions such as walking, throwing, or catching, where appropriate.
While some activities may be carried out on an individual basis, most districts and schools require students in adaptive PE programs to be included in activities with their peers whenever possible and appropriate.
How Does Adaptive PE Benefit Students With Diverse Needs?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), general physical activity can help all children improve not only their physical health but also their cognition and mental health. Adaptive physical education ensures that every student gets the chance to reap the benefits of this experiential learning experience .
However, for students with diverse needs, adaptive PE can be a source of something many struggle to find: belonging.
In 2024, a team of researchers completed a study on 17 years of data on the relationship between loneliness and disability. Their work, published in the peer-reviewed journal BMC Public Health, found that people with disabilities are almost twice as likely to suffer from loneliness and social isolation than people without disabilities.
Resolving this issue will take a far-reaching, multifaceted approach, but adaptive physical education activities already play an important role in reversing this trend. They help students develop bonds, social skills, and confidence, all of which can carry over into adulthood.
Examples of Adaptive Physical Education Activities
Just about any exercise, sport, or game can be adapted to fit any student. However, how activities are adapted depends entirely on their abilities and needs. Here are a few examples of how different activities can be adapted for a diverse student population.
Students With Mobility Limitations
A great way to adapt games for students with mobility issues is to introduce new equipment or modify rules. For example, a PE teacher can suspend rules about dribbling to make it more inclusive. For volleyball or baseball, a teacher might use larger or softer balls.
While not always possible, making such adaptations so that they’re fun for all students can help educators create a cohesive and inclusive atmosphere. This means students get the physical and social benefits of an adaptive physical education curriculum.
Students With Visual Impairments
Physical games of all kinds require students to react to movement. For students with visual impairments, this can be a challenge. However, with some creative thinking, it’s far from impossible.
To adapt activities for visually impaired students, it can be helpful to introduce tactile and audible cues. For example, during a relay race or an obstacle course, they can work with the help of a guide or follow a rope that leads from start to finish.
In any activity, though, it’s often important to give visually impaired students the chance to become familiar with the equipment, area, and movements. Combining this strategy with cues, guides, extra equipment, and rule modifications can even help them enjoy sports such as baseball or tennis.
For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Sensory-Related Conditions
With all of the movement, sounds, and sensations sports bring, PE can be an overwhelming time for children with autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorders, and other related conditions. However, according to 2024 research published in Kinesiology Review, educators can overcome this barrier by checking in with students before lessons and having a few strategies on hand.
For students who are hypersensitive to stimuli, using earplugs, providing a quiet cooldown space, and introducing them to rules and areas before beginning an exercise can help them participate in activities with their peers. Students who need extra sensory input can be aided by equipment with different textures, weighted blankets and other grounding tools, and various activities to choose from.
Modeling behavior and providing clear communication can also be extremely helpful. Because many students with autism spectrum disorder have issues with proprioception—the sense of one’s own body and its position in space—activities such as stretching, bouncing on trampolines, and using yoga balls can be used to help them center themselves.
Start or Advance Your Career in Special Education at Wilson College Online
Serving students with diverse needs, whether it’s in the classroom or the gym, requires a deep knowledge of the challenges they face and the evidence-based intervention strategies used to support them. At Wilson College Online, students at every stage of their career can learn that skill set.
Through the online B.A. in Special Education program, students learn the basics of cognition, development, and psychology while exploring how to best serve every student. In the online Master of Special Education program, experienced educators dive into advanced topics such as transition planning and educational design.
Both programs feature a self-paced learning environment and support from Wilson College Online’s expert faculty. To learn more about each program and explore your career options, request more information today.
Recommended Readings
6 Key Special Education Teacher Skills
How to Become a Special Education Teacher
What Is Early Intervention in Special Education?
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Benefits of Physical Activity for Children
Kinesiology Review, “Planning and Pedagogical Considerations for Teaching Children With Autism
