Build It So They Can Play: Affordable Equipment for Adapted Physical Education

Brimming with practical ideas, Build It So They Can Play assists physical education teachers, caregivers, and play group and recreation leaders in building adapted equipment and implementing associated activities to create a successful learning environment for students with disabilities.

Build It So They Can Play offers a range of equipment building projects, including equipment to modify participation in typical sports and recreation activities; aid with vestibular and fine motor development; and encourage audio, visual, and tactile stimulation. Every equipment project, from the simplest to the most involved, has been field tested to ensure success by the authors—all veteran adapted physical educators. Step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and detailed photos will help you accomplish each of these DIY projects. Plus, a complete list of materials and a list of necessary tools help you stay organized and save time.

Using inexpensive building supplies and found or recycled items, you can enhance your collection of adapted physical education supplies for a fraction of the cost of new equipment! Make a mobile low basketball goal with a trash can, plywood, and your screwdriver; or turn an umbrella into a sensory mobile. You can even construct your own therapy bed giving students who use wheelchairs the freedom to leave the chair without lying on the floor. And, each project includes additional ideas for use and suggestions for customizing the equipment for various abilities and purposes.

Are tight budgets forcing you to do more with less? With Build It So They Can Play, you can turn less expensive into more fun for your students. Grab your tool belt and start building a positive PE experience for all!