Topic > Adventure and experiential education: principles, adaptations and a case study

The power of group movement and individual activities is known to be essential for people of all abilities and fitness levels. Participating in physical activities at a level that enables the individual's success offers individuals, including those identified with disabilities, the opportunity to be free from limitations while learning to overcome challenges. It also helps erase stereotypes as people's awareness and attitudes change. Integrating adventurous and experiential activities into fitness and educational programs promotes lifelong physical well-being and inclusion. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayThe call of adventure is not difficult to identify. The truth is that the glory is in the doing, not the finishing. Physical and group activities in Adventure Education can be seen as metaphors for situations that the individual with disabilities may face in daily life. Teach the value of positive attitudes and emphasize ability over inability or disability. Adventure Education is often referred to as "Experiential Education", the concept of which allows participants to develop creative potential, encourages forms of expression and offers a wide range of "hands-on" activities. Many public schools are attempting to design physical education programs that include principles and elements of Adventure Education. Adventure Education has gained considerable momentum over the last 25-30 years. The challenges can be great as public schools attempt to rally support and implement new programming while meeting ever-changing national and state education standards, local funding issues, and facility and accountability issues. Adventurous or experiential programming in physical education can be designed to allow all students to participate safely at their comfort level and ability. It can successfully include those with physical, developmental, emotional and cognitive disabilities. Physical educators must learn how to implement accommodations for students with disabilities that are safe and effective, thus adding another dimension of challenge. This shapes the core values ​​of Adventure Education: building trust, inclusion, problem solving, teamwork and overcoming barriers for everyone involved. Success in addressing issues of curriculum design, safety, inclusion, and funding requires creativity, collaboration, and cooperation among staff and administrators in developing new programs in public schools. While Adventure Education has been around for many years, programming for people with disabilities is fairly new. The term "disability" implies a limitation of the functions of an individual with a disability compared to age-related peers. These disabilities can be emotional, cognitive, or developmental and include Down syndrome conditions, multiple disabilities, autism, traumatic brain injury, speech/language disorders, emotional disability, blindness, deafness, learning disabilities, and other impairments. of health. . Possible reasons cited for excluding people with disabilities from Adventure Education activities include “they can't do it, they might get hurt; it's too hard” and/or “they wouldn't like it anyway.” desire to protect people with disabilities and allowing for the possible risk that arises when making their own decisions, when carrying out tasks.