Swimmer

ADAPTED AQUATICS
(located in Building A)
Boy in Tube
4711-A Sid Katz
San Antonio, Texas 78229
PHONE: 210-397-2406
FAX: 210-615-2432

......The Adapted Physical Education Department has been offering water activities to special education students for a number of years. Originally, students in the ALE programs were offered opportunities to swim at NAC (Northside Aquatics Center) when the pool was available. The Adapted Physical Education Staff with the support of swim instructors offered instruction with each student's individual needs in mind. With the construction of the Nellie Reddix Center an eight feet by sixteen feet by 3.25 feet (average) heated pool became available for an Adapted Aquatics program.
DESCRIPTION

......The Northside ISD Adapted Physical Education (APE) program offers adapted aquatics as a strategy and technique for our students with orthopedic and/or neuromuscular related disabilities that severely compromise mobility. The small heated pool (92-96 degrees) has optional water jets, is four feet deep, and is designed to encourage water instruction activities that support APE programming. There will always be a qualified staff person in the water with each child and a staff member on deck.

......Adapted aquatics is a diversified and systematic program of carefully structured aquatic experiences and instruction designed to meet the unique needs of those students who qualify. It is not a therapy program. Instruction is appropriate in nature to the disability, based on APE goals and objectives, and is an integral part of the adapted physical education program. Programming is sequential and developmental in nature taking each student's disabling condition(s), present level of functioning, and needs into consideration.

.....The adapted aquatics program model follows a progression as good teaching dictates. The student's needs are assessed, the program is designed based on that assessment, and instructional strategies are developed. Effective instruction and reevaluation are constants of the program.

.....A completed Medical Release and Emergency Information for Water Activity form is needed prior to a student being included in adapted aquatics. This form includes information about the swimmer and a medical section that must be completed by the student's physician. Aquatics is offered during the school day at our adapted aquatics pool in the Nellie Reddix Center located at 4711 Sid Katz in the South Texas Medical Center area.

ELIGIBILITY for ADAPTED AQUATICS
I. Initial Enrollment Criteria

.....Adapted aquatics must first and foremost maintain service priorities and student eligibility criteria in order to meet the growing needs of Northside ISD's potential adapted aquatic students; give all students who qualify an opportunity to participate; and to assure that maximum benefit is realized for all participating students. Eligibility is determined by the APE Adapted Aquatics Team according to the eligibility priorities listed below. These eligibility guidelines along with the student's educational needs determine participation in adapted aquatics and the level of service.
1. Medical Diagnosis-Students with orthopedic and neuromuscular related disorders that severely limit mobility. Program placement is not limited to students with these diagnoses, but they have priority.

2. APE Goals and Objectives-Students with APE Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals and objectives where aquatics is indicated as an educational strategy and technique to assist with APE goal mastery. If a student is unable to make reasonable progress through the APE site- based program offered on campus, then aquatics may be indicated to support the educational programming of the student.
3. Fragile Medical Conditions-Students that indicate fragile medical conditions as related to orthopedic and/or neuromuscular disorders and diseases who can not participate safely in regular physical education or recreation-leisure activities on campus with modifications.
4. Physical Education Requirements for Graduation-Students with orthopedic and/or neuromuscular disorders and do not receive physical education on campus. Adapted aquatics may be indicated for qualifying students as an educational need to meet physical education requirements for graduation.
II. Continued Enrollment Criteria
It is important to remember that participation in adapted aquatics is not an entitlement that is automatically renewed annually. Each aquatic student must indicate an educational need based on current APE IEP goals and be unable to make acceptable and reasonable progress with site based programming alone, in order to be considered for annual participation.
Additional factors that may impact a student's continued participation in adapted aquatics.
  • Educational need for adapted aquatics based on current APE goals and objectives
  • Documented progress toward APE goals and objectives with ongoing site-based instruction
  • Record of previous attendance to the pool during scheduled time
  • Frequency of hygiene accidents in the pool (which requires cancellation of all remaining students for the day)
Below Curtis enjoys walking in the water.
Boy walking in pool with instructor
Click here to return to Adapted Physical Education page.Return to Adapted Physical Education