Inclusion of All Students Takes the Spotlight in MN Physical Education

UMD students and Minnesota educators participated in Unified P.E. sessions on Saturday. Photo by Patty Wendinger

The UMD Physical Education Department hosted an event on March 1 to connect with Minnesota educators on integrating adaptive lessons into general education.  The event was scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and consisted of lectures presented by community leaders and active sessions which provided insight into what an adaptive physical education classroom looks like.

In all, 22 personnel, including UMD students as well as educators from around the state, were in attendance for the sessions provided by Minnesota Developmental, Adapted Physical Education (MNDAPE).

One session, Unified P.E. - A Decade Of Inclusion presented by Mike Doyle, focused on taking a look back at the last 10 years of Unified PE in the state of Minnesota with a look to the future. As a Cloquet educator, Doyle emphasized the importance of the three core values of Special Olympics Minnesota’s Unified Schools strategy. These include Whole School Engagement, Inclusive Youth Leadership, and Special Olympics Unified Sports. Each of the values play an essential role in providing a welcoming environment for all students.

Most notable is the rapid progression of Unified events in schools around Minnesota. Doyle contributed this to the method in which staff plan in collaboration with events already happening in their local communities. For the Cloquet Unified community with whom Doyle works with, they had the opportunity to visit the Grandma’s Marathon and meet with Chris Nikic in June 2024. Building off of that event, the group participated in Grandma’s Minnesota Mile in September 2024, and have continued to demonstrate their unity in spreading inclusion by playing basketball scrimmages during recent UMD Men’s Basketball games.

Throughout Doyle’s presentation, the educators and students around the room chimed in to contribute their own experiences, perspectives and successes as they’ve had their own journeys discovering how to integrate Unified programs into their facilities. This goes to show the rising influence of Unified Physical Education throughout the cities in our state, giving hope to students of all needs that they will have a kind and safe environment at school due to the dedication of their instructors, particularly that of the 22 personnel who attended the sessions on March 1.