Students learn games aimed at disabled
Paul Mercado, Daily Staff Writer
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The expo was used to indoctrinate future physical education teachers to the fact that physically challenged students can and do enjoy participating in sports, said Nancy Megginson, professor in the human performance department.
The games included sit-down volleyball, goal ball, wheelchair basketball and quad rugby.
Sit-down volleyball proved to be one of the more physically challenging games for the students. The net is placed slightly above the floor and a regular volleyball was used instead of a beach ball or a balloon that is normally used with disabled students.
Participants sit on the floor sliding around while trying to hit and return the ball.
Goal ball is a game designed for people with sight impairments, requiring students to put on blinders and use their hearing abilities to block and return the ball, which had a bell inside.
"The coolest thing about this game is that when you block out one of your senses (abilities) your other ones seem to sharpen," said Maya Kubo, a senior majoring in kinesiology.
Megginson said kinesiology refers to the study of movement.
"The term is used to describe a multifaceted field in which movement or physical activity is the focus," Megginson said. "Activity includes exercise programs and games for improvement of health and physical fitness. They are designed for special population groups such as, persons with physical disabilities, injury or disease; which include athletes, children and the elderly."
Ramin Naderi, a grad student in adapted physical activities, said the adapted physical activity concentration trains future teachers to work in adapted physical education from kindergarten though high school, community colleges and universities.
"The Disabled Sports Expo gives a demonstration of the sports that can be played in schools where students can have real competition," Naderi said.
Naderi is also president of the adapted physical activities club, which was formed in 1999 to promote activities and events in the disabled community.
"Anyone interested in this field can join the club and help with lectures, expos like this one, field trips, conferences and disabled sports competitions," Naderi said. "The club is open to anyone interested in sports programs designed for physically challenged students."
Naderi said this is the first time they have had this kind of expo. Nadiri wanted to get information out about the disable sports programs and about the club.
"We wanted to show that people with physical disabilities can engage in activities similar to those of able body persons," Naderi said.
Janet Clair, an instructor in human performance, teaches a physical activities class for students with physical disabilities which include many specialized areas of study in which the causes and consequences of physical activity are examined from different perspectives.
This specialized area of study applies knowledge, methods and principles from traditional areas of sciences.
These areas include exercise, sport biomechanics, biochemistry and motor behavior.
According to Megginson, the study of kinesiology can lead to a variety of careers involving teaching, research, coaching and the delivery of services related to physical fitness activities. They can include health promotion, rehabilitation and sports medicine, Megginson said.
Positions in the field are found in a variety of settings including schools, colleges, universities, public and private agencies.
