Martin Block

Professor in Kinesiology at the University of Virginia

[Martin Block @MartinBlockUVA]

My former doc students Aija Klavina from Latvia and Sean Healy from Ireland at #EUCAPA2022. They are doing wonderful things in Europe!

[Martin Block @MartinBlockUVA]

Three past presidents of International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity. #eucapa2022

[Martin Block @MartinBlockUVA]

@CathyMcKay10 @UVAKinesiology @UVAEdu So proud of all of you!

[Martin Block @MartinBlockUVA]

@ifapanet @AureliePanko Congratulations Dr. Panko!

[Martin Block @MartinBlockUVA]

@NCPEID @Justin_Haegele Congratulations. He is a rising star in our profession! Actually, he already is a star!

[Martin Block @MartinBlockUVA]

@CathyMcKay10 @NCPEID Very well deserved! So proud to count you as my advisee and colleague!

[Martin Block @MartinBlockUVA]

https://t.co/dl51nkIoVs via @routledgebooks

[Martin Block @MartinBlockUVA]

@MLBONFOX One of my favorite players when I was a kid and a Senator’s fan

[Martin Block @MartinBlockUVA]

@Dr_AmandaYoung @NCPEID Sorry, I missed Amanda’s question about preparing undergraduates for a midterm. Perhaps having a study session with the group where you review key concepts. I also have a study guide to help them focus on key concepts

[Martin Block @MartinBlockUVA]

@MNfeldmanDAPE @CSULB_APE I like to start with similarities. “Did you know John loves the New England Patriots and watches every game with his family?” Then you go into how the student would love to interact more with his classmates. Then give some simple ways for the peers to interact with the student.

[Martin Block @MartinBlockUVA]

@CSULB_APE Continuing with the reluctant PE teacher, give some simple suggestions for modifications, and then praise PE teacher for using the modifications. Then ask the PE teacher for some suggestions. This will build confidence and open the PE teacher to accepting more students w/ disab.

[Martin Block @MartinBlockUVA]

@CSULB_APE This is a big challenge! I would start slow with brining child in for warm up, and make sure child is successful. Then I would praise PE teacher for including the child. With success you can try longer periods of inclusion and bring in more students.

[Martin Block @MartinBlockUVA]

@MBittner_APE Also with regard to a continuum, part time in GPE and part time pull out is a nice addition. The para educator can bring the child into GPE and provide support as needed, and the para can pull child out when environment or activities are not appropriate for child.

[Martin Block @MartinBlockUVA]

@MBittner_APE This is a true but challenging situation. I think talking to the General PE teacher and seeing students who normally are pulled for APE can come for part of PE (e.g., warm ups). Then if we can make sure the experience is successful for the student, the PE teacher might ok more

[Martin Block @MartinBlockUVA]

Inclusion in PE. We can’t expect children without disabilities to know if they are supposed to approach a peer with a disability or what to do if they have the courage to approach a peer. Early interactions have to be nurtured and planned. Later they will become more spontaneous.

[Martin Block @MartinBlockUVA]

@ScottMcNamara12 Socially, the number of times a child with a disability is approached by and interacts with peers. Physically, the child with a disability is playing the game and participating successfully in PE activities. Both aspects are needed for true successful inclusion.

[Martin Block @MartinBlockUVA]

@ScottMcNamara12 It starts with just a few children who want to interact with and help the child with a disability. Through teacher praise and encouragement more students will want to interact and help, and soon the entire class will be involved. But you have to encourage and start with a few.

[Martin Block @MartinBlockUVA]

@ScottMcNamara12 Make accommodations universal and not just for child with disabilities. Take volleyball. Each server chooses the ball they want to use and distance from net. This way the accommodation is for everyone, and less skilled children also benefit from accommodations

[Martin Block @MartinBlockUVA]

@CSULB_APE This is important - we have to prepare peers if we want to get good interactions. Simple things like explaining about the child who is included, teaching positive ways to interact, using peer tutoring, explaining modifications and offering modifications to everyone are a few ways

[Martin Block @MartinBlockUVA]

@CSULB_APE Unified Sports provides a really easy mechanism to bring people with and without disabilities together through sport. Any opportunity where people without disabilities interact and play with people with disabilities is wonderful and changes attitudes. Unified Sports provides this