Adaptive Physical Education

Cotting School's Adaptive Physical Education provides opportunities for physical fitness, fundamental motor skills and patterns, individual and group games, and sports.  Adaptive Phys Ed teacher Dan Cuddy makes adjustments in the program for each student to accommodate their individual needs and to maximize participation. Adaptive Phys Ed teacher Dan Cuddy also aims to make gym class fun. Students start with simple activities: tag, relay races, jump roping, simple ball games, and using the parachute.  They learn the game itself, as well as the skills of teamwork and following directions, and they learn how to handle the dynamics of being in a noisy gym.

As students get older, a few more rules are added that lead to playing soccer, basketball, and softball. Each student shines in Mr. Cuddy’s gym class. He creates drills and games that bring out the abilities of each student, and everyone wins at something as he rotates the activities. Going through a slalom of cones is one of the hardest cognitive things for our students; he adapts the obstacle courses so that students in wheel chairs and walkers can work on mobility.  Over time, he sees a huge improvement in students in both skill level and self confidence.

In addition to the adaptive physical education department, Cotting School has affiliations with AccesSport America, Massachusetts Special Olympics, and the New England Handicapped Sports Association.

Read about Cotting School sports