Empower through play: A handbook for inclusive physical education

Download the Empower Through Play handbook

Children with intellectual disabilities often face systemic exclusion from structured physical activity programs, not due to a lack of interest or ability, but because of an absence of inclusive resources, trained facilitators, and adaptive frameworks. The Empower Through Play Handbook addresses this gap by offering an ability-sensitive guide designed to meet diverse developmental needs through structured physical activity.

This handbook is an outcome of the Empower Through Play project under the Sports for Transformation Fellowship of the Dani Sports Foundation. It is developed through a blend of secondary research, on-ground fieldwork, and iterative design. It draws on globally recognized frameworks such as the Special Olympics Young Athletes Curriculum, PHE Canada’s Physical Literacy tools, and the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disability’s (NIEPID) Behaviour Assessment Scale, combining them into a hybrid model that promotes physical, cognitive, and emotional development. This model was piloted over seven weeks with 15 children across two centers in the towns of Kapadwanj and Kathlal, in the state of Gujarat in India. A custom assessment tool was used to track progress at both baseline and endline stages, measuring motor skills, comprehension, and confidence. More than 50 activities were initially curated from various sources and self-designed modules. Of these, 28 were field-validated. The final documentation was done after a comparative analysis of baseline and endline data indicated positive developmental outcomes among the children.

Through extensive secondary research, a critical gap was identified in the availability of physical education programs for holistic growth of children with intellectual disabilities. For example, while the Young Athletes program by Special Olympics offers a strong foundation in physical skill-building, it may need more components that address broader developmental needs to fully adapt activities for varied disabilities. While addressing this gap, the handbook aims to contribute to the field of Inclusive Physical Education by promoting equitable learning environments that nurture every child’s overall development. It also supports the broader ‘sport-for-development’ ecosystem, illustrating how sport and movement can be powerful tools for inclusion and positive change among marginalized groups.

Diving into the handbook

The Handbook aims to offer a comprehensive toolkit for inclusive physical education. It includes a structured baseline and endline assessment framework to track developmental progress, along with a 7-week skill development curriculum focused on Foundational Motor Skills (FMS). A total of 20 field-validated and inclusive activities are featured that can be adapted to suit different ability levels. It provides sample lesson plans and built-in activity modifications to meet diverse motor, sensory, cognitive, and behavioural needs. 

The initiative to create the handbook originated from a desire to document project activities and share them with pilot centers, aiming to equip teachers with ready-to-use, structured physical activities. However, this resource has the potential to serve as a comprehensive framework for anyone working to make physical activity more inclusive for children with intellectual disabilities. This includes educators, caregivers, parents, therapists, and rehabilitation professionals who support children's development through movement-based learning. It is equally valuable for mainstream teachers striving to build inclusive classrooms, NGOs and community programs focused on disability or sport. Additionally, the handbook can be used at the pre-primary level with neurotypical children who are in the process of developing their foundational motor skills.

The handbook is also designed to be a potentially comprehensive tool for implementing inclusive physical education programs. To begin, users should start with the ‘Understanding the Approach’ section to establish a clear context, which can be complemented by a baseline assessment that can be conducted using the tools provided in Annexures A and B. Implementation planning can be guided by the ‘Weekly Skill Development Program’ in Section 5. Although the suggested curriculum spans 7 weeks, it is flexible and can be modified based on the group’s needs. Activities can be selected from the Activity Bank in Section 6, with additional ideas available in the section on additional resources. For longer programs, a midline assessment can help track progress midway; for shorter durations, users can proceed directly to the endline assessment using the same method as the baseline. The data collected can be used to measure improvements and identify next steps for each child’s continued development.

While the handbook fills a gap in resources for inclusive physical education, there remains significant potential for further enhancement. For example, introducing individualized action plans would allow for more personalized tracking of each child’s progress and needs. The assessment tools provided can definitely be further refined to generate deeper developmental insights, particularly in areas such as emotional and social growth. Additionally, a dedicated ‘adaptive sports’ curriculum can be developed as a next step to help children transition into sports-specific skills after building their foundational strengths through the FMS program. Moving forward, these enhancements can help shape the handbook into a more comprehensive and inclusive resource. 

This handbook offers an initial foundation for further exploration. The author acknowledges that there are many gaps and opportunities ahead, and welcomes any thoughts, feedback, or suggestions you may have.

About the author

Vijay Kataria is a Sports for Transformation Fellow with the Dani Sports Foundation and is currently interning with the Sports and Society Accelerator. He designed this handbook as part of his time within the Fellowship. 

E-mail: [email protected]