De Anza College :: Adapted Physical Education

About Adapted PE: Program Overview

◊ History and Description ◊	◊ Scheduling, Cost, and Enrollment ◊
◊ Fitness Programs ◊	◊ Related Programs ◊

History and Description

Did You Know?

Adapted Physical Education (APE) began in 1973, one of the earliest programs o f its type in California community colleges.

In the beginning there was just one class with 15 students, taught by a part-time instructor.

Today, the program
- Enrolls 500 students a quarter
- Offers more than 25 classes
- Has 3 full-time and 4 part-time faculty instructors
- Is supported by 4 instructional assistants and 10-15 student assistants
- Operates in a 3500 sq. ft. dedicated gym facility
- Uses an wide array of up to date equipment, including those specially designed for adapted exercise

What Does the Program Do?

The program is designed to provide opportunities to obtain the benefits of improved physical fitness to people with disabilities, where participation in a regular Physical Education setting would be inadvisable or impossible.

In most cases, the APE program offers the least restrictive learning environment because of its

What Does APE Provide?

The broad range of courses to meet the fitness needs of students with disabilities includes exercise in

aquatics,
strength development,
total fitness exercise programs
outdoor education

Curriculum is designed to accommodate individual programs as well as appropriate group instruction.

What Fitness Classes are Offered?

On-Campus Programs:
- Gym exercise classes
- Pool exercise classes
- Back Fitness
- Hope/APE (for students with developmental disabilities)
- Adapted Outdoor Education (coming Fall, 2009)
Off-Campus Community Programs:
- Parkinson's disease exercise
- Adapted fitness for older adults with disabilities

What are the Classes Like?

Individuals of all ages and backgrounds participate.
Most classes enroll 20 or more students.
There is a wide range of disabilities, often ten or more types, represented in classes.
Each student engages in a program of exercises based on his/her own individualized plan, with minimal group participation.
There are some classes in which students enroll generally based on a specific disability, such as the Parkinson's class.

Can Prospective Students Visit the Program?

Yes! If interested in determining what the Adapted Physical Education has to offer in your individual situation, come to see the program.

No appointment is needed. Drop-in to see exercise classes in PE 13--

Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- Visits available during the regular quarter terms
- Check for dates of the school term and holidays on the De Anza website calendar.
- Plan your visit after the first week of the quarter, and before Finals Week, the last week.

Visitor parking is available in Lot C. See map.
- Obtain a one day parking permit from the red machines in the lot (8 quarters required).
- For persons displaying DMV placards or plates, no day permit is required and parking is permitted in staff spaces, as well disability designated spaces.

How are Classes Scheduled?

APE classes follow the De Anza College's quarter system calendar. The start and finish of each quarter corresponds basically to the four seasons of the year. Each quarter lasts for twelve weeks, except for an 8 week long summer session.

Quarter	Approximate Dates	Length
Fall	Late September - mid December	12 weeks
Winter	January - end of March	12 weeks
Spring	Early April - end of June	12 weeks
Summer	July - late August	8 weeks

For specific starting and ending dates, see the De Anza College website calendar.

Most classes meet 3 times a week for 50 minutes or 2 times a week for 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Students enroll for one quarter length session at a time. Those who want to continue in the following quarter session's classes, must re-enroll quarterly.

What is the Cost?

Fees for Class Enrollment:

Fees are set by the California state legislature. For the quarter session, regular California resident fees total about $50.00 for one and $65 for two APE courses. More information on fees is available from the Cashier's Office.

Low income students may qualify for fee assistance through the Board of Governor's Grant Waiver (BOG-W program.) Students can contact the Financial Aid office for more information or consult with a DSS counselor for assistance.

Parking Fees:

One quarter or annual parking permits are available, or a student can choose to purchase a daily permit at machines in the parking lots.

A California issued DMV disability plate or placard exempts a student from purchasing a De Anza student parking permit.

A De Anza College parking permit OR the DMV placard/plate must be displayed at all times while parked in any campus parking lot.

Refer to other De Anza webpages for general information on college parking, or for more information on parking on campus for students with disabilities.

How Does a New Student Enroll?

Because there is a high demand for the classes, students should plan ahead to enroll in the up-coming quarter. Check for information on eligibility and start the steps to enroll well in advance of the upcoming enrollment period.

Students may enroll in Adapted PE courses ONLY through the Special Education Division.
New students must register first through Disability Support Services. See How to Enroll for specific requirements on eligibility, and for the process to register for an APE class.

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Related Programs

APE is one of four programs that comprise De Anza's Special Education Division. These programs offer additional services and classes and may address the needs and goals of students with other types of disabilities.