Movement for Individuals with Disabilities

Instructor: Andrew Colombo-Dougovito, Ph.D, CAPE Pron: Ko-lom-bow – Dug-o-vee-toe

andrew.colombo-dougovito@unt.edu

940-565-3403

Office: PEB 210-A 

Schedule a meeting

Course Description:

Comprehensive practical approach to conducting physical activity programs for individuals with disabilities. Course is delivered in an online format and includes legal entitlement and relevant procedures that conform with state and federal legislative mandates. Procedures on integrating individuals with disabilities, as well as procedures for assessment, programming and facilitation of learning are presented. Instruction and activities will revolve around understanding the movement needs of a variety of disabilities and how to best modify programs to meet those needs. In addition to online-based lectures and discussions, students will gain hand-on experiences working with a child(ren) with disabilities; this allows for both a theoretical and practical understanding of the concepts presented in class.

Learning Objectives:

In this course:

1. You will consider your intentions for the semester and learn a potentially useful technological skill;
2. You will demonstrate an understanding of material presented in each online modules & recorded lectures by completing a multiple-choice quiz after reviewing the module’s content;
3. You will be able to (1) reflect on and evaluate your practical experiences (i.e., in class practicum and off campus), (2) relate your experiences with the academic topics covered in class, (3) articulate the importance of civic responsibility, and (4) evaluate your contribution to the community;
4. You will be able to create a developmentally-appropriate activity within the lesson, appropriate for teaching a child with/without a disability;
5. You will be able to (1) qualitatively analyze a person’s movement, and (2) provide an evaluation of their motor performance
6. You will think critically of about your future profession and how you might apply the knowledge presented in class; and
7. You will use the knowledge gained through this course, as well as your own additional research, to create a unique product.

Required Text:

• Block, M. E. (2016). A Teacher’s Guide to Adapted Physical Education (4th ed.). Baltimore, MD: Brookes Publishing Co.

Additional required readings will be available on Canvas.

Course FAQs and Instructions:

How should I refer to people with disabilities in class?

• You are expected to refer to people with disabilities using person-first terminology in assignments and class discussions. For example, sentences should read “people with disabilities” rather than “disabled people”, or “individuals who use wheelchairs” rather than “wheelchair-bound people”. “People with disabilities” is preferred to “people with handicaps” in every assignment. There are circumstances for which this is not appropriate, these will be discussed throughout the semester; however, as students, the default is to use person-first language. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in the deduction of points on the assignment (see rubrics).

How can I get the best grade possible?

• You are strongly encouraged to download your notes, take notes during the recorded lectures, complete all readings, exams, and assignments, and actively engage in class discussions.
• You should attempt to complete each module on Canvas during the week that it is assigned so that you do not become overwhelmed near the end of the semester. I recognize that these are not typical times, so if you fall behind, please let me know ASAP.
• To prepare for the exams, use the online modules, your notes, the readings and the recorded lectures, as exam questions may come from any one of these sources.
• You must follow the instructions outlined in each assignment’s grading rubric. If you have any questions, please message me as early as possible.
• Refer to the schedule regarding assignments. If you are unable to turn in an assignment on time, it is your responsibility to talk with me. Not doing so may result in a loss of points. Please talk to me as soon as you are know there will be an issue, and I work with you to reschedule any assignments or exams.
• You should check your grade book in Canvas weekly and contact me with questions. Do NOT wait until the end of the semester to ask questions.
• You are expected to use Canvas to access class materials. It is your responsibility to make sure you are receiving emails from Canvas, familiarize yourself with and regularly check Canvas as I will often post messages and instructions – failure to follow these instructions may result in the loss of credit.

How can I communicate with you?

• You can communicate with me through my faculty address (colombo-dougovito@unt.edu) or through Canvas messaging. When sending emails make sure you do not use ‘texting’ language and abbreviations. Instead, maintain a professional manner, insert your name, etc. If you send an unprofessional or disrespectful email, you may be asked to try again before you receive a response. You are representing yourself professionally through your papers and communication with me, and you may need a reference in the future. Please allow 48 hours for an email response; do not expect a response the night before an assignment is due. I do check email over the weekend, but not as often; emails received over the weekend will be responded to promptly on Monday morning.
• Be proactive and contact me early. I also have virtual drop-in office hours (see above); if you can’t make those times, email me and we can meet at an alternative time.

What happens if I plagiarize?

• It is expected that all submitted work is your own. You must not submit work that has been copied and pasted as this is considered plagiarism—this extends to lesson plans; even if it is only a single piece. If you plagiarize an assignment you will receive an F for that assignment and an academic integrity report will be filed with the University. If you have previous reports on file, UNT’s Academic Integrity Officer will determine repercussions.
• This expectation of academic integrity extends to exams and projects, as well. All submitted work should be your own.
• All class recordings are the intellectual property of the university or instructor and are reserved for use only by students in this class and only for educational purposes. You may not post or otherwise share the recordings outside the class, or outside the Canvas Learning Management System, in any form. Failing to follow this restriction is also a violation of the UNT Code of Student Conduct and could lead to disciplinary action.

Do I need to worry about attendance?

• As with any class, remote or in-person, attendance is a key part of this class. Our class will cover the theoretical concepts of teaching and apply this knowledge in the gym. Although our course is fully online, it is expected that you login to Canvas and view the content for each module.
• I do not mandate any specific amount of time be spend view course material or that you be online any specific days, it is your responsibility to engage with the content as much as necessary for you and to complete assignments when required.
• While I will not be monitoring how much time or when you are logged in to Canvas, I will be monitoring your progress with the course materials. If you fail to login or submit an assignment for two consecutive modules, I will check in with you and may file an EagleAlert.

What if COVID-19 impact’s my attendance?

• While attendance is expected as outlined above, it is important for all of us to be mindful of the health and safety of everyone in our community, especially given concerns about COVID-19. Please contact me if you are unable to attend class because you are ill, or unable to attend class due to a related issue regarding COVID-19. It is important that you communicate as soon as you are able, so that I can work with you to ensure appropriate accommodations and adjust deadlines accordingly.
• If you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 please seek medical attention from the Student Health and Wellness Center (940-565-2333 or askSHWC@unt.edu) or your health care provider PRIOR to coming to campus. UNT also requires you to contact the UNT COVID Hotline at 844-366-5892 or COVID@unt.edu for guidance on actions to take due to symptoms, pending or positive test results, or potential exposure. While attendance is an important part of succeeding in this class, your own health, and those of others in the community, is more important.

What about late assignments?

• The deadlines set in this class are to ensure that you stay on track with course content and items don’t get backlogged so much that you feel overwhelmed later in the semester. With that said, I will accept work submitted to Canvas after the deadline up to a week after the deadline for full credit. Work submitted to canvas after 1 week past the deadline will be accepted until the end of the semester but graded out of a B (85%).
• All assignments offer multiple attempts to “submit” the appropriate document; I will grade the most recently submitted document.
• I will work diligently to grade your work and return a grade to you within 14 days of the assignment deadline. I will assign a zero (0) to any assignment that has not been submitted at the time I have entered the grades for others; if you submit your work after this zero has been awarded, then I will grade your assignment and reaward the new grade in Canvas.
• The "S*** Happens" Policy.Life happens and sometimes it hits you hard—it certainly seems to be harder than normal now. For this class, you are afforded one late assignment for the semester to help with this. If something happens and you need an extension for an assignment, please email me at colombo-dougovito@unt.edu at least 24 hours prior to the deadline. You only need to tell me that you invoke your “S*** Happens Extension” and you will be given a 1 week extension (meaning your assignment could be turned in for full credit up to two-weeks after the original deadline). No questions asked; you do not need to tell me a reason for this situation. Once you use up your 1 “excused” late submission, all other late or missed assignments will be graded out of a B (85%). This may not be used for exams, quizzes, or “self-checks”; if you have a scheduling conflict with any of the aforementioned assignments, please talk with Dr. Colombo-Dougovito as early as possible prior to the scheduled assessment.

What happens if I have internet issues around an assignment deadline?

• The University is committed to providing a reliable online course system to all users. However, in the event of any unexpected server outage or any unusual technical difficulty which prevents you from completing a time sensitive assessment activity, I will extend the time windows and provide an appropriate accommodation based on the situation. You should immediately report any problems to me (the instructor) and contact the UNT Student Help Desk: helpdesk@unt.edu or 940.565.2324 and obtain a ticket number. I and the UNT Student Help Desk will work with you to resolve any issues as quickly as we can.

Will any extra credit or bonus points be offered?

• No individual extra credit will be available, so please do not ask. Any extra credit opportunities offered throughout the semester are at the discretion of the instructor and will be offered equally to all students.

What are your responsibilities, Dr. C-D?

• Good question! I have gathered all the materials for our semester and will be working to make sure that the content is available for you promptly.
• I have developed the module content and uploaded the recorded lectures, so that you can access them and can clearly engage with the important topics of the class—if anything is not working for you (and it’s not an IT thing), please let me know.
• I’ll be available each week during office hours to meet with you. This can be to answer broad questions or just to chat about an issue you might be facing. I very much enjoy getting to know everyone during the semester, and COVID makes that difficult; so, I hope each of you can drop in at least once throughout the semester.
• I will also work to have graded work back to you as quickly as I can. There are many of you in this class so certain graded work might take me longer than usually; however, I will try to have your work graded within 2 weeks of the deadline. For many of your assignments (such as the quizzes or exams), your grades will be returned to you immediately.
• I also pride myself in being responsive to questions of students. Typically, I will reply within 48 hours or sooner—though, if it is over the weekend, I will likely not respond until Monday morning (I need a break occasionally, too). I typically try to be more responsive around deadline but do not expect an email to be returned between 8 pm and 6 am.
• I also pledge to give fair notice about any changes regarding the course. I try not to make changes, however, sometimes they are necessary—I will let you know about it and why.

Grading Procedure:

This course uses criterion-referenced grading. That is, grades are determined by performance as compared to standards for each assignment, not based on performance of other students in the class. Criteria for each assignment can be found on the course Canvas site. You can learn more about each assignment by selecting it in the below table.

Grades will be determined by the following weights:

Grades Scale:

• 179 - 200 pts = A
• 159 - 178 pts = B
• 139 - 158 pts = C
• 119 - 138 pts = D
• less than 118 pts = F

Late Policy:

Late work will be accepted up to 1-week after the deadline with no penalty. Assignments turned in later than 1 week will be graded out of a B (85%). However, life happens sometimes; therefore, each student has one (1) “S*** Happens” exemption. If for whatever reason, you do not feel like you can complete an assignment by the due date, email Dr. Colombo-Dougovito at least 24 hours prior to the deadline and you will be given a 1-week extension. No questions asked; you do not need to tell me a reason for this situation. Once you use up your 1 allowed late submission, all other late or missed assignments will be graded out of a B (85%). This may not be used for the final project.

Tentative Schedule

Course FAQs & University Policies

Academic Support & Student Services