The Adapted Physical Activity faculty have been working on some ambitious goals for the next year or two.  There are two versions of a model that we’re developing to help explain how the APA program is designed and operates.  In the first model below, there are four concentric circles. 

The inner ring is our academic curriculum (27 credits).

The next adjacent ring includes all of the practicum experiences that are directly related to specific classes (i.e., Saturday morning Program, Friday Fitness Program, etc.), these are “Student-Centered” practicum experiences (where students are the focus of the learning). 

The activities in the third ring are all the affiliated programs that we conduct such as the Disability Sports Program (Special Olympics, Wheelchair Sports, Sports Vision, etc.), the Center on Disability and Health, Storm Harbor Equestrian Center, etc.

The fourth and outer ring really describes our goals for next year or two.  This is where our students go out into the communities (New Castle, Pittsburgh, Mercer, Philadelphia (?), etc.) and work with people with disabilities in YMCA’s, corporate centers, recreation/fitness centers, etc.  This is where our students will also serve as trainers of the staff at these facilities so we can eventually leave and the facility will accept people with disabilities into their agency with open (and qualified) arms.