Digital Commons Network^™

Co-Production Of A Mixed Abilities Physical Education Curriculum For Youth With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities And Varying Intersectional Identities, Thi Nancy Huynh, Rebecca Bassett-Gunter, Michael Atkinson, Kelly Arbour-Nicitopoulos

International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness

Youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) engage in low levels of physical activity (PA). School-based physical education (PE) can offer innovative and effective ways to enhance PA for youth with IDD. This study utilized an equitable, experientially informed co-production approach to develop a mixed abilities PE curriculum. A consensus-building process, the nominal group technique (NGT), was used to develop curriculum and plans for school implementation. Data were collected from: Special Olympics Ontario (n=1), teachers (n=2), and an educational assistant using interviews. Focus groups were conducted with youth with (=3) and youth without IDD (n=2). Quantitively, data were analyzed through …

The Paralympic Pathway: Evolution Of Participation For Athletes With Intellectual Impairments In The Paralympic Games Since 2012, Debbie Van Biesen, Roi Charles Pineda, Jan Burns

International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness

Introduction The re-inclusion of athletes with intellectual impairments (II) in the Paralympic Games in 2012 was a landmark moment for equitable representation in sports¹. The representation of II-athletes at a major sport competition such as the Paralympic Games is an important vehicle to promote inclusion. This study examines the trends in participation, representation, and performance of II-athletes from London 2012 to Paris 2024.

Methodology Publicly available data from Paralympic Games results books (2012–2024)² and qualification regulations were analyzed to track participation rates, entries, event growth, and the contributions of II-athletes to national success. Key metrics included athlete …

Inclusive Hiking Project With Joëlette Chair In The Educational Environment, Laura Jimenez-Monteagudo, Clara Climent Oltra, Marta Martin Rodríguez, Héctor Esteve Ibáñez

International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness

Outdoor physical activities can be a very powerful tool to improve the inclusion of people with disabilities in the educational field, within the area of Physical Education. However, we are still far from achieving this inclusion in this type of activities. Fundamentally due to the lack of training of professionals, but also due to the lack of tools that allow inclusion in nature.

This is a research project with two main objectives. On the one hand, to make possible the inclusion of students with physical disabilities in the educational centres of the Valencian Community, and on the other hand, to …

Policy Advocacy In Sport And Society, Alana Richardson, Sally-Ann Jennifer Fischer

International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness

Sport and physical activity have intentionally been used as a tool to contribute to social development in areas such as disability inclusion, yet this approach tends to offer merely micro-level initiatives to remedy larger scale social or structural issues. Therefore, it has commonly been suggested that the sport sector needs to engage more in policy advocacy to enact larger scale structural and social change. Policy advocacy is understood as a deliberate effort to influence policy in the interest of an organisation or the people it serves. It can provide the opportunity to challenge power structures that oppress marginalised groups, strategically …

Inclusive Active Courtyards, Anna Fillat

International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness

Patis Actius Inclusius es una iniciativa innovadora a través de la cual promovemos los juegos tradicionales durante los recreos en los colegios de Primaria.

Este proyecto tiene un valor añadido importante, ya que son personas con discapacidad intelectual las que facilitan y enseñan de forma proactiva a los niños estos juegos tradicionales que les resultan muy familiares, pues formaron parte de su propia infancia: la peonza, el aro, las canicas, el juego del pañuelo, el juego del palo y muchos otros.

Al hacerlo, fomentamos la inclusión y la participación social entre diferentes generaciones y grupos sociales, al mismo tiempo que …

Bridging Science And Sports: The Role Of Paralympic Science Support Nl In Creating A Sustainable Community, Eline Blaauw

International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness

Dutch researchers at the top of their field were frequently asked to share knowledge at international conferences or sports programs abroad, yet Dutch sports federations often lack awareness of their work or how to engage with them. This disconnection between research and practice created a gap in effectively supporting Paralympic athletes. To close this gap, Paralympic Science Support NL (PSS-NL) was established with support from the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sports.

PSS-NL aims to create a supportive environment where adaptive sports programs can develop using knowledge. PSS-NL serves as a national hub for paralympic sports federations and academia, …

Paralympics Ireland Nextgen Community Series, Cliona Horan Ms

International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness

The PTSB NextGen Community Series programme focused on learning more about para sport and what opportunities exist in local communities prior to, and following, the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.

• Main aims:

1: Positive athlete experience

2: A follow up para Sport opportunity within local community and/or with chosen NGB.

In years 1 & 2, NextGen was open to people aged 10 and older that have a physical, or sensory impairment, with or without previous sport experience. Current or former athletes from all levels aiming to discover a new sport or find another, that compliments their main discipline attended …

Knowledgebased Multidisiplinary Testing Of Assistive Devices For Activities In A Rehabilitation Context, Tor Erik Nyquist, Viljar Aasan Mr

International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness

Activities with the use of assistive devices for activity (ADA) requires that the correct type of device is well-adjusted and that sufficient training has been provided in how to use it. This requires both time and a multidisciplinary approach. At Beitostolen Healthsports Center (BHC), arrangements have been made for dedicated trial stays. This is a developed method with specific goals, content, and organization, where the main objective is to enable participation in activities on equal terms with others in the local community.

Our extended knowledge together with the patient helps us find the most optimal ADA through testing, adjustment, and …

Calgary Adapted Hub Powered By Jumpstart, David Legg, Cheri Bradish Dr., Marco Dibuono Dr.

International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness

The Calgary Adapted Hub Powered by Jumpstart (https://www.calgaryadaptedhub.com/) aspires to be the go-to resource for inclusive and accessible sport and recreation programming in the city of Calgary. With the support of several partners, the Hub connects individuals and families of those with impairments to opportunities for adapted sport and physical activity to gain confidence, build friendships, and get physically active in new and exciting ways. Programs supported by Calgary Adapted Hub are then backed by industry leaders and evidence-based research, with quality coaching and instruction at every level. For the past four years the Hub has conducted research …

Special Olympics Healthy Athletes Screenings: Using A Universal Design For Learning In The Health Promotion Discipline, Franziska Loetzner, Leah R. Ketcheson, Andrew Pitchford

International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness

Since 1997, Special Olympics International (SOI) has conducted more than 2 million health screenings (healthy athletes screening/s; [HAS]), making it home to the largest publicly available dataset of health for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). While SOI has responded to a call to action (Lloyd et al., 2018) regarding this database, discrepancies of reliability remain. Specifically, regarding the ‘Health Habits Survey’ within the Health Promotion discipline. The ‘Health Habits Survey’ had been designed for SOI Athletes to learn about health behaviors, reduce health concerns, reinforce good health behaviors, and educate on health. Possible difficulties in validity and reliability …

Golf A Game Changer As Therapeutic Recreation For Asd, Edel Randles, Adrian Whitehead, Mike Keane, Erin Lozott

International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness

Ever since the first description of Infantile Autism by Leo Kanner in 1943, the relevance of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has multiplied manifold (Raina et al., 2015). Recently the CDC has concluded that the prevalence rate for 2023 across 8 year olds in the US was 1 in 36, 3.8 times more prevalent in boys than girls. Research also points out that the often felt difficulty in ability to perform gross and fine motor skills discourages an individual from participating in peer sport and this is likely to cause aggregation of social and communicational difficulties (Alexander and Leather, 2013).

Golf …

Professional Sport Venue Threats, Security Measures, And Technological Solutions, Brandon Allen, Laurajean Holmgren, Stacey A. Hall

Global Sport Business Journal

Several incidents involving large crowds have led venue security directors to adopt preventive strategies. Venue organizers should foster a safe and secure environment, which requires assessing risk levels, recruiting and training staff, exercising plans and protocols, and leveraging technology solutions. The purpose of this study is to explore professional sport venue threats, security measures, and technology utilization. Security directors (n=52) from five major sports leagues in the United States (MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, and NHL) participated in the study. Key findings focus on staffing, training and development, fan behavior, and facility operations. Recommendations include investing in multiple strategies to enhance …

Environmental Screening For Multidrug Resistant (Mdr) Organisms In The Surgical Ward Of An Irish Tertiary Referral Hospital., Sinead A. Fahy, Sinéad Fahy

ORBioM (Open Research BioSciences Meeting)

The aim of the current study was to determine the prevalence of Multidrug Resistant Organisms (MDRO) colonisation on a surgical ward of an acute tertiary hospital. MDRO determination was conducted on a patient-occupied surgical ward over a 6-month period. The screen included sink, and shower drains in bathrooms and sinks of multi-bedded and single-occupied rooms. Swabs were cultured on chromogenic agar to enable detection of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Carbapenemase producing enterobacterales (CPE), Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) and Extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL). Suspect resistant organisms were confirmed using NG-Carba 5 (NG Biotech, Guipry, France) lateral flow tests, Vitek 2.0 …

Modesty In Originalism, William H. Pryor Jr.

Florida Law Review

Keynote address that addresses modesty in originalism. William H. Pryor Jr. returns to discuss this topic after he delivered the Dunwody Lecture sixteen years ago. He is no longer a junior circuit judge but now a chief circuit judge with over twenty years of experience. More than ever, he is committed to the ideal of the modest judge.

Going En Banc, Randy J. Kozel

Florida Law Review

This Article examines the law of en banc review in the federal courts of appeals. It explores key doctrinal questions and advances a theory that maintains the primacy of three-judge panels by focusing the en banc process on a specialized set of institutional tasks.

Expressive Discrimination: Universities' First Amendment Right To Affirmative Action, Alexander Volokh

Florida Law Review

In the wake of Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College, affirmative action proponents should pursue a First Amendment approach. Private universities, which are speaking associations that express themselves through the collective speech of faculty and students, may be able to assert an expressive association right, based on Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, to choose their faculty and students. This theory has been recently strengthened by 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis.

I discuss various complexities and counterarguments: (1) Race is not different from sex or sexual orientation for purposes of the …

Transunion, Vermont Agency, And Statutory Damages Under Article Iii, Randy Beck

Florida Law Review

The Supreme Court concluded in TransUnion LLC v. Ramirez that a plaintiff may not sue to collect statutory damages under a statute such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act simply because the defendant violated a right Congress conferred on the plaintiff. Article III instead requires the plaintiff to show that the statutory violation resulted in a “concrete” injury with “a ‘close relationship’ to a harm ‘traditionally’ recognized as providing a basis for a lawsuit in American courts.” Under the majority’s reading of Article III, “an injury in law is not an injury in fact.”

The TransUnion Court made no effort …

Review Of Trans And Gender Diverse Voices In Libraries, Adrian Johnson

Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies

This book review summarizes and discusses Trans and Gender Diverse Voices in Libraries, a compilation of fifty-three individual essays by and for trans and gender diverse people in the library and information science (LIS) profession. Edited by Kalani Keahi Adolpho, Stephen G. Krueger, and Krista McCraken, the 547-page work was published by Library Juice Press in 2023. This review provides a thorough look at each of the book’s seven sections, which are designated by professional focus or career stage, and emphasizes and contextualizes the importance of the title within the landscape of LIS literature.

Tracing Transformations: (Digitized) World War Ii Correspondence Through The Lens Of The Records Continuum Model, Milan M. Van Lange, Carlijn Keijzer

Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies

This paper traces the transformations of a historical archival collection of personal wartime correspondence. Most of the records in this collection were created in the context of the German Occupation of the Netherlands during World War II (1940–1945) and/or the War of Independence in Indonesia (1945-1950). The collection was gathered and curated by the NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust, and Genocide Studies in Amsterdam from 1945 onwards and was digitised between 2020 and 2023. We navigate the convergence of past and future transformations of the records and illuminate the intricate web of considerations and decisions of historical preservation, archiving, digitisation, …

Examining The Impact Of Stress On Collegiate Flight Students, Shivanee D. Cannon-Patron

Beyond: Undergraduate Research Journal

Stress may negatively affect the timely completion of a student pilot's flight training. A student pilot influenced by stress may be subject to what is known as "falling behind the aircraft," a condition that constantly requires minor interventions from their flight instructor. This lack of situational awareness and decreased performance may inadvertently cause the student pilot to repeat the flight lesson, increasing the time spent in the training course.

Examining The Anxiolytic Effects Of Flavonoids In Passionflower: A Gut-Brain Axis Perspective, Khelen R. Walsh

PSU McNair Scholars Online Journal

This literature review investigates the influence of Passiflora incarnata on the Gut-Brain Axis, focusing on the role of flavonoids and the specific biological mechanisms involved in this process. The study aims to identify Passiflora incarnata as a practical, non-harmful, and cost-effective alternative to current modern anxiety medications. This study also emphasizes the need for further clinical trials to integrate Passiflora incarnata further into healthcare settings. Using a narrative review approach, this analysis will examine pre-existing empirical articles, all of which have been found on credible sites, are peer-reviewed, and have been published within the past twenty-five years. The data discussed …

Safe-Haven Ignorance: The Epistemic Refugee, Purya Rabet

PSU McNair Scholars Online Journal

This paper engages with the emerging field of ignorance studies. Per feminist critique, the classic “X knows that p” formulation in epistemology fails to account for the subjectivity and situatedness of X. Building on feminist and critical race theory contributions, this paper puts forward a positive theory regarding resistance to belief-revision. The inquiry concerns the relationship between X’s ignorance and X’s self. This paper interrogates defensive reactions to knowledge and their connection to the narrative sense of self. It introduces “safe-haven ignorance”—a psycho-sociopolitical defense mechanism—which occurs when an individual becomes hostile toward knowledge that contradicts their established self-narrative. This contradiction …

Revealing The Role Of Saccharibacteria (Tm7) In The Oral Cavity And Its Potential Applications In Fighting Gum Disease, Tyrese Ostin-Bordeaux

PSU McNair Scholars Online Journal

This study explores the physiology of TM7, a mysterious microbe, in preventing gum disease. A literature review of 42 articles examines TM7's interactions with other microbes, deeming the microbe's behavior could help modulate pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity as a probiotic.

Who's Afraid Of Femininity? An Examination Of Hegemonic Masculinity And Envy, Shiloh R. Frost, Emily Shafer

PSU McNair Scholars Online Journal

The woman's rights movement has made strong progress over the past years, yet strict attitudes on how men and women should behave persist. Manhood is defined as being the polar opposite to womanhood, as any expression of femininity is treated as a threat to its dominant position within gender hierarchy. Research has shown that while women have managed incorporate traditionally masculine roles into womanhood, the same has yet to be done for manhood — specifically in the case of cisgender and heterosexual men. In fact, societal wide disdain towards the femininities persists despite attempts to challenge the gender hierarchy. This …

Social Emotional Learning With Children And Social Cognitive Therapies Used In Treatment For Schizophrenia: What Is The Relationship Between Them?, Lynette Marie Lubiak

PSU McNair Scholars Online Journal

Why has mental illness in our children let alone society increased so significantly? In this paper I am doing a lit review to understand the need for a structured lesson plan of Social Emotional Learning (S.E.L.) and incorporating some techniques of social cognitive therapies for our children. This will be understood by comparing social cognitive therapies in Schizophrenia treatment that rewires healthy neural pathways from miswired neural pathways that are not functional in schizophrenia and the impact on a person with schizophrenia having difficulties to integrate into society while coping with their illness. I will do this by analyzing Theory …

Sports And Physical Activity Of Poles In The Context Of Good Health And Well-Being As A Sustainable Development Goal, Elżbieta Biernat, Monika Piątkowska, Robert Podstawski

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Investing in physical activity (PA) is vital for achieving sustainable development goals. We examine PA trends in Poland using data from Eurobarometer surveys conducted in 2013, 2017, and 2022. In 2022, 64.6% of Poles did not participate in sports, and 41.8% did not engage in non-sport PA. There is a concerning trend of increasing inactivity in sports (Chi²_2022/2017 = 34.64; p < 0.001; Chi²_2017/2013 = 56.98; p < 0.001) and non-sports PA (Chi²_2022/2017 = 18.3, p < 0.01 and Chi²_2017/2013 = 16.95, p < 0.01). Participation in sport and PA is influenced by individual, inter-personal, environmental, political, and global factors. Notably, there is an upward trend in interpersonal (e.g., club membership, volunteering), environmental (e.g., PA in parks/nature, at home), and political (e.g., dissatisfaction with local government actions) factors. Government intervention is crucial and requires: (1) establishment of an institution for leadership and advocacy of PA, (2) adoption of a cross-sectoral approach for a coordinated change, and (3) increased in-vestment in monitoring systems to track the impact of interventions. These actions are essential for fostering a more active and healthier population in Poland.

Preliminary Convergent And Known-Groups Validity Evidence For Scores From Various Executive Function Tasks In Us Adolescents With Visual Impairment, Adam Pennell, Alexandra Stribing, Peter Rifenburg, Andrea Taliaferro, Pamela Beach, Lauren Lieberman, Ali Brian

International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness

Investigations exploring the purported reciprocities between psychomotor and cognitive skills are mounting. However, such inquiries are limited in adolescents with visual impairment (AVI). This disparity is (in part) due to the fact that psychometrically-vetted cognitive and executive function test scores/studies derived from AVI are scant. While large sample investigations are needed, pilot psychometric studies are an advisable antecedent. The purpose of this study was to investigate preliminary convergent and known-groups validity evidence for scores from various executive function tasks in AVI. Thirty-seven participants (Mage=13.59 ± 2.80 years) completed a background information questionnaire, several anthropometric measurements, as well as the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders …

Inclusivising Our World: Co-Designing An Inclusive Play Space In The Crann Centre, Cork, Ireland, Alice Moore

International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness

This project exemplifies the intersection of policy, practice, and research in adapted physical activity, highlighting the importance of user participation in creating inclusive play and recreation spaces. Traditional playground designs often reflect adult perspectives, which can inadvertently exclude children with diverse abilities, leading to missed opportunities for play and social interaction. Our initiative uniquely engaged both children and adults as "user experts" alongside "professional experts" in co-designing a state-of-the-art inclusive play area in Cork, Ireland, over a 30-month period, culminating in its launch in Summer 2022.

By actively incorporating children’s voices throughout the design process, we sought to align our …

Disability Studies On A Global Landscape: Pedagogical Study Abroad Experiences, Brenda Rossow-Kimball, Doug Cripps

International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness

“Learning happens best by doing” (University of Regina, Centre for Experiential and Service Learning, 2023). Reflective of Dewey’s belief that experience is knowledge and our experience is simply ‘what we do’ (Dewey, 1892), students who engage in this type of learning ultimately enhance their academic outcomes.

This presentation shares the experiences of two Canadian professors of disability studies who have integrated experiential learning as a pedagogical tool throughout their combined 45 years of teaching. Most recently, their work has engaged student learning on study abroad experiences (ISAPA 2025; Disability Sport Conference 2024 in Coventry, England).

Through immersive cross-cultural learning, student …

Sleep And Physical Activity In Youth With Visual Impairments, Pamela Beach, Jack Peltz, Marlee Pontello, Ali Brian, Sarah Decker, Lauren Lieberman, Andrea Taliaferro, Adam Pennell

International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness

Introduction

Currently, there is minimal research on sleep in youth with visual impairments. The present study aimed to examine the associations between physical activity, mental health, and sleep in this population.

Methods

Participants included 37 youth (M_age = 13.03 years; range: 8-19; 51% female). Six were congenitally blind, and the overall sample included eight B1’s, three B2’s, 18 B3’s, and eight B4’s. All participants were assessed at the start of a summer sports camp for youth with VI and completed the School Sleep Habits Survey and the Rapid Assessment Physical Activity Survey.

Results

Although there were no differences in …