After 15 years in the community and two years in area high schools, the University of Windsor is evaluating how its Adapted Physical Exercise (APEX) program improves health outcomes and fosters inclusion for students with Intellectual and or Developmental Disabilities.
For the past year, students from the university's Human Kinetics program have been working with leadership students at Westview Freedom Academy, Vincent Massey Secondary School, and Sandwich Secondary School. Through the initiative, the leadership students are partnered with students in the STEPS (Skills to Enhance Personal Success) program to help them participate in adapted physical activity sessions.
"Both sets of students absolutely love the program. They see each other in the hallways, there are high fives, whereas perhaps they might not have been interacting as much without the program," said Adriana Duquette, Acting Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies.
Faculty of Human Kinetics at the University of Windsor. "We really want to evaluate that to create more of a sustainable method of developing this program."
That formal evaluation will be done this year thanks to a WE-SPARK Idea grant. Researchers will conduct interviews with teachers, leadership students, and STEPS students who participated in the programming.
Superintendent of Special Education for the public school board, Chris Mills said they've witnessed the program creating connections and improving inclusivity.
"Smiles on faces, how excited our leadership students are when they come out and meet with the students," said Mills. "It really creates that sense of community for everyone."
The APEX program also runs at the University of Windsor in partnership with Community Living Windsor and at schools with the Catholic School Board.
