Students improve quality of life through adapted physical education

When Tim and Mia were researching residential schools for their son Colin, they were seeking a program that offered academic, artistic, social and athletic experiences for him. At Heartspring they found it all. “We want Colin to have the same experiences that other school children take for granted,” said Tim. “Including a top-notch physical education program.”

Every child enrolled in the Heartspring School participates in adapted physical education classes at least three days a week. Travis Grover, Heartspring’s adapted physical education teacher, works to ensure all students benefit from their time in the Heartspring Recreation Center.

For Grover, helping students gain lifelong recreation and leisure skills, maintain a healthy weight and improve their quality of life are the cornerstones of his program. “Students are going to need a variety of life skills when they transition out of Heartspring and leisure skills are a big part of that,” he said. “I gear my curriculum toward those skills – swimming, cycling, roller-skating – activities they can learn today and utilize for years to come.”

Each PE class begins the same way every day with a consistent warm up routine. Students walk and run around cones set up in the gym, then move on to a set of fitness and stretching activities including jumping jacks, sit ups, toe touches, running in place, and a scooter board pull, warming up all the muscle groups. Once warm ups are complete the students will move on to a core activity.

Most of the core activities are centered on Grover’s goals of providing the foundation for lifelong leisure skills. In addition to swimming, cycling and roller-skating, students also learn how to bowl and play shuffleboard, participate in parachute activities and modified baseball and volleyball games. “The skills we work on in the gym aren’t that different from those practiced in typical PE classes,” said Grover. “I just modify everything to fit the needs of our students.” With over 50 students with varying levels of ability, that can get tricky. “You have to be creative to do this job,” he said. “But I enjoy creating different games with different rules. Every child is different so you have to adapt your activities for each student.”

Students who may come to Heartspring overweight often begin a treadmill program helping decrease their body weight, which in turn, can lead to more positive behaviors.

At the end of the day, Grover hopes to make physical fitness enjoyable. “I try to make class entertaining and fun – to provide students with an activity they enjoy. And once I find that, I try to help them master that activity in any way that I can to help them have a more positive experience in PE.”

Parents are often elated when presented with the progress their child has made in PE. “When we started looking for a school for Joshua we were actually just wanting one to help him,” said Josh’s parents, David and Julie. “However, when we found Heartspring we were absolutely blessed as it has an amazing program which includes everything we could have asked for. He never even willingly participated in PE programs before. Here he has excelled in it.”

“PE has expanded Colin’s outlets at Heartspring and given him a real balance between the classroom and G2 (Colin’s group home),” said Tim. “His accomplishments in PE build his confidence and make him a happier kid, which results in greater overall focus that benefits Colin in every way.”

In addition to teaching PE, Grover also oversees the recreation and leisure program at Heartspring as well as coaches the Heartspring Hawks Special Olympics team.

Students have the opportunity to attend a wide variety of events throughout the community as part of the recreation and leisure program including baseball, hockey and arena football games, visiting the zoo and the circus, participating in an annual roller-skating party and taking in the sights and sounds of the Kansas State Fair. “Students need to have as many experiences as possible while at Heartspring,” said Grover. “Through recreation and leisure they’re able to go to sporting events and experience different activities in different settings so when they do transition, they’re used to traveling to different locations.”

“I am very pleased that Matthew has had the opportunity to attend baseball, football and hockey games while at Heartspring,” said Jana, Matthew’s mom. “He typically does not want anything to do with crowds, especially loud crowds, but has learned to adapt somewhat. He has especially liked getting to meet some of the team mascots.”

Tim and Mia enjoy taking Colin out in the community when they come to visit and they credit Heartspring with how well he is able to adjust to a variety of settings. “Colin has been to activities that he would have never been a part of if it was not for Heartspring,” Tim said. “We were amazed when we heard Colin went to his first baseball game. This is something typical kids take for granted, but we never thought Colin would be able to do these types of things. It’s made us more confident as well when we are with Colin.” Tim and Mia have taken Colin to the movies and the Kansas State Fair on past visits. Most recently, they took Colin to his first ever basketball game at Wichita State University.

Grover utilizes many of Wichita’s resources to help students gain experiences including the YMCA, local bike paths and other neighborhood recreations centers. Last year, five students even participated in Miracle League Baseball, a special league specifically created for children with special needs. It was a huge success. “Joshua was able to play baseball last year which was great,” said Julie. “Everyone on the team worked so hard and Joshua enjoyed being a part of this and seeing his friends play as well. His dad was able to be his ‘angel’ (volunteer buddy) during one of the games. That was wonderful to see.”

Special Olympics events allow every student at Heartspring to compete in a variety games. From track and field events to swimming, bowling and skiing, students are able to win medals and feel like part of a team. “Everyone wants to participate in activities that are rewarding,” said Grover. “What’s great about Special Olympics is that they often have low motor events so every child can compete. Some of the higher functioning athletes really get in to it because they do feel part of the team. They love competing; they love the rewards they get – the praise and the medals. It gives them a sense of pride and accomplishment.”

“Thomas has always loved Special Olympics,” said Thomas’ parents, Donald and Amy. “And he is able to compete in more events at Heartspring than he could anywhere else. He is so proud of himself.” Thomas is one of several students who has traveled to Kansas City to participate in the state Special Olympics bowling and skiing competitions. These trips include an overnight stay in a hotel, eating out at restaurants and visiting other attractions including Cabela’s and Legends outdoor mall. “Thomas talks about (a trip) up until it happens and long after it’s over,” said Amy. “He talks about the food and how it is so good. He also talks about the other kids. Most of the time we have to ask him how he did, but he is awfully proud of whatever award he gets.”

Thomas used to get upset if he didn’t win first place in a competition, but has learned how to better cope with his feelings if he doesn’t. “I remember going to the first bowling event,” said Amy. “One of the first signs of Thomas’ growth was after he bowled a gutter ball and then went down and only hit one pin. He came back to me and hugged me and said, ‘It’s better than nothing.’ Before coming to Heartspring, he would have been ready to go home.”

Grover smiles when talking about his programs and his students. “I love my job,” he said. “It’s rewarding to see my students have fun, smile, laugh. It’s great to be the person who helped them learn how to roller-skate or ride a bike or swim – things that many parents thought they’d never see their child do. I’m lucky. I get to help them improve their quality of life.”

“Not only is Travis Thomas’ favorite teacher, but he has been able to motivate Thomas like no other teacher has before,” said Amy. “Sports means a lot to him and he is always telling us how he has asked Travis to play basketball at the YMCA or lift weights. He is really thinking on his own about the things he wants to do.”