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Observing children on the autistic spectrum as they are included in the typical Gym class and then to observe as part of an APE (ADAPTED PHYS. ED )Gym class leads me to believe and know that Adapted PE is the way to go. Working one on one with kids on the spectrum, I have seen first hand the difference in the teaching style of the professionals teaching typical gym and those trained in Adapted Physical Education.

Autistic children have high sensory feelings. To expect for a child on the autistic spectrum to follow through on a typical routine for peers of the same age. The child is set up to fail.

Observation 1 "The typical Gym Class grade K:
The child enters the class. There are 40 students from two kindergarten classes. They walk on the black line and separate. The child is guided to the line kept on the line by the "one on one" aide. The aide is constantly speaking to him in short sentences, "good job,
nice listening". The surrounding children are intrigued by the aide and boy and start asking questions. The aide instructs those children to listen to the gym teacher. The gym teacher is angry for the disruption. The children sit on the black line in a criss cross fashion. The child is sitting still with constant guidance. The aide uses board maker symbols to keep the child on task.
The warm up routine has several instructions. The teacher instructs the class to run forward and walk backwards back to the group. Just waiting in line is difficult for the autistic child. The aide has been asked to wear sneakers to keep up with the child. It is difficult because the activities have language the child doesn't understand. The teacher refers to the Gym as a ship and uses starboard, port, etc. When she calls out "Drop anchor," the children are expected to sit where ever they are in the Gym. There are several other terms that the child doesn't understand and he tries to fit in by watching and copying the other children. The activities are loud and the stimulation of the noise is making it hard for the child to stay on task. As the child finds it difficult to stay on task he starts to run recklessly into another line of children and the gym teacher asks the aide to take the child from the class. She announces that she doesn't want him in the class for longer than the warm up part of the class. The aide leaves with the child, feeling defeated. The child flops on the floor outside the gym and the Special Ed teacher has to be called to bring the

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