Therapeutic School
Adapted Physical Education (APE)
Adapted Physical Education helps students discover the joy of physical activities while gaining strength, coordination, and confidence.
Therapeutic School
Adapted Physical Education (APE)
Adapted Physical Education helps students discover the joy of physical activities while gaining strength, coordination, and confidence.
Movement Designed for Every Ability
Our program is intentionally designed for students with physical, sensory, and neurodevelopmental differences.
Instruction is individualized, adaptive, and rooted in evidence-based practices that support motor development, balance, coordination, and endurance. Equally important, APE helps students develop body awareness, self-regulation, and confidence in their physical abilities.
APE is an investment in long-term health outcomes, reduced barriers to participation, and greater quality of life well beyond a student’s time in our program.
Motor Development & Coordination
We work to help students improve their balance, strength, endurance, and gross motor skills, which are essential for play, learning, and daily activities.
Self-Regulation & Sensory Processing
Lessons in APE support body awareness, sensory integration, and emotional regulation, helping students feel ready to learn.
Attention & Learning Readiness
Our coaches’ intentional activities help students enhance their focus, stamina, and ability to participate in academic and therapeutic activities.
Confidence & Independence
APE helps students build self-efficacy and encourages safe, confident movement in school, community, and home environments.
Social Engagement & Teamwork Skills
Our classes support turn-taking, shared attention, and participation in group activities, helping students navigate play, teamwork, and community settings with greater confidence.
Swimming
Our Adapted Physical Education (APE) coaches are Swim Angelfish Adaptive Swim WhisperersⓇ certified, expanding their expertise in adapting aquatic activities to better support students in our Therapeutic School.
Adaptive swimming helps prepare students to safely participate in water‑based activities, building confidence, coordination, and access to experiences on our campus and the community.
- Weekly Outings
- Partnership with Wichita State University
Gymnastics
Students work on their coordination, balance, flexibility, agility, and strength, alongside our APE coaches, through adaptive activities designed by YMCA staff.
- Weekly Outings
- Partnership with the Greater Wichita YMCA
Special Olympics
Adapted physical education classes help students build the skills needed to participate in these inclusive community events with confidence, with staff supporting and celebrating their progress every step of the way.
- Regional events throughout the year
- Students prepare for events in APE classes
- Students can qualify for state events
Miracle League
The Miracle League of Wichita provides an opportunity for players with disabilities to join an athletic league with their peers participating in a variety of sports.
Every participant plays, every player scores, and every team wins!
- Students regularly participate in sports like baseball, bowling, and kickball
- Local events throughout the year, held mostly on Saturdays
- Students prepare for events after their school day and/or in APE classes
Adapted Physical Education Photos
