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VOLUME Xill, NUMBER 11

= INNOVATION ABSTRACTS

ara ISHED BY THE Nien Sours fees STAFF AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (NISOD), COLLEGE OF EDUGATION,

ics UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUS Ue asi SUPPORT FROM THE W. K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION AND THE SIO W. BeBe L pee TION

 

Teamwork: The Key

To Success For Students With Disabilities

There is a tendency to say that students with disabili-
ties can only swim, stretch, and do modified weight
training for their physical education. However, at
Palomar College these students are encouraged to break
out of such confines and are afforded the same opportu-
nities for instruction as students without disabilities. A
first effort at this encouragement was an adapted
physical education class in snow skiing.

The class, P.E. 27-Beginning Skiing, is not unusual for
a Southern California community college; but to offer
this course to disabled students, and be responsible for
transportation, meals, lodging, equipment, and instruc-
tion, presented some unique organizational challenges.

Preliminary organization began in September. We
began a fund-raising effort among local service clubs to
help defray student expenses. The cost for the five-day
trip was estimated at $250 per student. After donations,
the actual cost for each student was $100. (There were
twice as many applicants as could be accommodated.)
Those wishing to enroll were advised to take weight
training and/or swimming classes to increase their
overall strength and stamina. Thus, skiing proved to be
a good motivator for participation in other P.E. classes.

Ultimately, 14 students with a variety of disabilities
were selected for this trip: quadriplegics, paraplegics,
hemiplegics, acquired brain injured, cerebral palsied,
visually-impaired (totally blind), autistics, and learning
disabled. Four had never seen snow, and one had never
been out of San Diego County.

The group left Palomar College in the college van
and arrived at Lake Tahoe 12 hours later. The rest of
the day was spent unloading gear and settling into a
four-bedroom house. Several students, as well as the
two instructors, slept on the floor in sleeping bags.
There were only two bathrooms and a minimum of hot
water. Learning to cooperate and adapt to limitations
were priorities.

Early the next morning, the group departed for the
Alpine Meadows Handicapped Ski School. First, each
student’s disability was assessed in order to assign an
appropriate individual instructor. After some instruc-

tion, everyone returned to the house for a well-deserved
rest. The afternoon was spent socializing, playing in the
snow, and preparing dinner. The evening was spent
around a warm fire, discussing goals and getting to
know each other better.

This general format was repeated for the next two
days. Every student learned to ski, whether on a sit-ski,
a mono-ski, stand-up skis with triggers, or regular skis.
All special equipment provided by the ski school was
included in the cost of the lessons. The usual “fun
things” associated with a ski trip, such as lunch in the
lodge, a visit to the pizza house, dancing, and a giant
snowball fight, were included at no extra charge.

At the end of the trip, all students and their parents
or spouses were asked to evaluate the experience.
Every student boosted self-confidence and achieved a
higher level of self-esteem. The class exceeded the
highest expectations of the instructors. The motto of the
Handicapped Ski School is: “If I can do this, I can do
anything.” Realizing students could fulfill the spirit of
this motto was a great reward for students and instruc-
tors alike.

This class would not have been possible without a
total team effort within Palomar College and nearby
communities. Shortly upon their return, the authors
made presentations (which included a videotape of the
trip) to the Palomar College Board of Governors,
various staff organizations, and local community clubs.
The energy and commitment generated to provide this
unique class and achieve such a successful outcome has
made the entire college community more aware of our
disabled student program.

Ruth Tait, Counselor/Enabler, Disabled Student Program
Tony Lynds, Instructor, Adapted Physical Education

For further information, contact the authors at Palomar
College, 1140 Mission Road, San Marcos, CA 92069.

 

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THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STAFF AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (NISOD)

(CJ Community College Leadership Program, Department of Educational Administration
tras College of Education, The University of Texas at Austin, EDB 348, Austin, Texas 78712

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