What do adapted physical education specialists do?
Provide individualized physical education instruction or services to children, youth, or adults with exceptional physical needs due to gross motor developmental delays or other impairments.
This describes a U.S. occupation, not a live vacancy. Individual employers may use different titles and requirements.
Job titles to recognize in your search
O*NET reports these titles for this occupation. Compare the responsibilities in each posting before treating titles as equivalent.
- Adapted Aquatics Instructor
- Adapted Physical Activity Specialist
- Adapted Physical Educator
- APE Consultant (Adapted Physical Education Consultant)
- APE Instructional Specialist (Adapted Physical Education Instructional Specialist)
- APE Teacher (Adapted Physical Education Teacher)
- Certified Adapted Physical Educator
- DAPE Specialist (Developmental Adapted Physical Education Specialist)
Core tasks to compare with a job posting
- Provide adapted physical education services to students with intellectual disabilities, autism, traumatic brain injury, orthopedic impairments, or other disabling condition.
- Provide students positive feedback to encourage them and help them develop an appreciation for physical education.
- Provide individual or small groups of students with adapted physical education instruction that meets desired physical needs or goals.
- Instruct students, using adapted physical education techniques, to improve physical fitness, gross motor skills, perceptual motor skills, or sports and game achievement.
- Write reports to summarize student performance, social growth, or physical development.
- Evaluate the motor needs of individual students to determine their need for adapted physical education services.
- Establish and maintain standards of behavior to create safe, orderly, and effective environments for learning.
- Collaborate with other educational personnel to provide inclusive activities or programs for children with disabilities.
- Adapt instructional techniques to the age and skill levels of students.
- Assist in screening or placement of students in adapted physical education programs.
Prepare an application for this occupation
- Check the employer’s requirements, location, schedule and any licenses against your situation.
- Choose two or three tasks above that match the posting and your actual experience.
- Build a resume evidence worksheet using the skills and software relevant to that employer.
- Practice explaining your contribution, decisions and results before an interview.
Ready to plan your search?
Start with adapted physical education specialists as your target. You can change your role in the quiz and tell us your location and work preferences.