Be Patient, Try New Things, and Think Outside the Box
“Be patient. Be willing to try new things. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box.”
That’s the advice Stacy shares with anyone interested in adaptive physical education. As the Adapted Physical Education and Aquatics Specialist at Forest Rose School, he works with students from kindergarten through high school who have a wide range of abilities and support needs, including students with complex medical needs.
“My job is to adapt physical education activities and games to meet each student's individual needs and abilities so that everyone has an opportunity to participate, learn, and have fun,” Stacy said.
Some of his students use communication devices to express themselves, while others use wheelchairs or gait trainers to help them move. Stacy finds creative ways to help every student participate, including through activities in the pool.
“In the pool, we use water-based activities to work on movement, strength, mobility, and other individual goals while making sure students enjoy themselves,” he explained. “At the end of the day, it's about finding ways for every student to be involved, experience success, and enjoy being active.”
Fairfield DD works to help people live more independently and make meaningful contributions in their communities. Stacy sees this mission in action through the opportunities students have participating, building skills, and discovering what they enjoy.
“Every student deserves the chance to be included, try new things, develop skills, and experience the joy of being part of a group,” Stacy said. “Sometimes that looks different for every student, and that's okay. By adapting activities to their individual abilities, we can help students build confidence, develop independence, and experience meaningful participation. To me, that's what inclusion and empowerment are all about.”
One of Stacy’s favorite parts of his job is seeing his students’ personalities shine through as they discover activities they enjoy. He loves finding ways to get them excited about participating and celebrating the moments when they have fun.
“Some of the best moments are hearing a big belly laugh, seeing a huge smile, or hearing one of those excited squeals that lets you know a student is having a great time,” he shared. “We work on important skills, but we also get to build relationships, have fun, and create positive experiences for our students.”
For Stacy, success looks different for every student. It might mean trying something new, making progress on a skill, participating in an activity in a different way, or becoming more comfortable in the water.
“It doesn't have to be a huge milestone to be meaningful. Sometimes the smallest steps represent the biggest accomplishments,” he said. “And sometimes, success is simply seeing a student laugh, smile, or make a happy sound because they're enjoying the moment. Those are the moments that make all the hard work worthwhile.”
Helping students succeed takes creativity, patience, flexibility, and an understanding of each person's needs. Stacy often finds new ways to adapt activities so students can participate in ways that work for them.
“An activity might look different from what someone expects traditional PE to look like, but that doesn't make the experience any less meaningful,” he explained. “Every student has the right to participate in ways that are appropriate for them, and my goal is to create an environment where they feel included, supported, and successful while having fun.”
The impact of Stacy’s work can reach far beyond the classroom and school pool. One of his favorite memories is seeing how an experience at school helped a family discover something they could enjoy together.
“I remember a parent who took their child swimming at the local YMCA for the first time as a family. The parent got to see just how much their child loved the water and shared that they wished they had started doing this sooner,” he recalled. Swimming has since become a bigger part of their family’s life. “That memory means a lot to me because it shows that what we do can reach beyond our APE classes and the pool at school.”
For Stacy, moments like this show how helping students discover something they love can open the door to new experiences for the whole family.
“We can help students discover something they love and give families the confidence to explore new experiences together,” he said. “Seeing a student enjoying the water, watching their family share in the excitement, and knowing that experience has become part of their lives is incredibly rewarding. Those are the moments that remind me why I love my job.”
Stacy’s advice to others interested in adaptive physical education is to get to know their students, celebrate their progress, and appreciate the small moments along the way.
“Progress doesn't always happen quickly, and sometimes it looks different than you expected. It's important to recognize and appreciate every step forward, no matter how small it may seem,” he said. “Most importantly, remember that building relationships is just as important as working on skills. When you truly enjoy what you do and celebrate your students for who they are, the little moments can become the biggest rewards.”