Adaptive Gymnastics

Adaptive Gymnastics

Adaptive Gymnastics seeks to provide adolescents with special physical, developmental, and neurological needs with an opportunity to take part in a weekly gymnastics class. With a curriculum designed around specific motor development, coordination and socialization goals, Adaptive Gymnastics provides a no cost alternative to additional physical and occupational therapy sessions while promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities into sports and recreational activities.

Gymnastics provides unique opportunities to develop overall athleticism that other recreational activities are unable to provide.  Mastering walking on a 4-inch wide balance beam, developing the upper body strength to hang from the uneven bars, and coordinating the entire body to crawl through a foam pit are just a few examples of the wide array of skills necessary to master gymnastics. Unfortunately, while gymnastics provides therapeutic opportunities that other recreational activities do not, the cost can be a barrier to many families, especially the families of medically fragile children who might already require significant costly interventions to achieve maximum health.

Students will:

• Students will learn about developmental disorders in pediatric populations
• Learn how to effectively communicate with individuals with varying levels of intellectual and speech disabilities.

Goals for Adaptive Gymnastics include improved socialization with their peers, specific physical therapy goals such as walking with one foot in front of the other, or occupational therapy goals such as manipulating small objects.  Students are paired up with one to two athletes, review their modification plan and goals, and help guide them through the program. 

For additional details on Adaptive Gymnastics, you can download the handout: HERE

You may also contact Community-Engaged Learning for any additional questions.

Students, report your CEL hours: HERE