Adaptive Sports League
Statistically, athletics have been proven a prime factor in student success, psychologically, physically, and academically. In the world of special education, such opportunities have often been far too narrow. That gate grew considerably wider, however, as the Adapted Sports League has arisen to provide an inclusive playing field for special education students to engage in multiple competitive sports. This league allows students to represent their school and compete in extracurricular events.
Kory Kleinhans, an adapted physical education teacher in the district, is the Special Olympics coach who founded this Adapted Sports league after hearing about its success across the Midwest.
“I started talking to teachers about doing something like this about four years ago when I came to the district,” he said. “I originally got this idea from teachers in Minnesota, and they have been doing this for 12 years now. La Crosse has a league as well, and I thought we could start a league in Oshkosh and the Fox Valley.”
The inaugural season will be this summer as the first ever OASD Adapted Sports League Summer Camp will take place from June 7 to July 16 at Oaklawn Elementary and open to students in grades 9-12.
“Mr. Kleinhans is setting up a summer school program to start doing practices,” Gillian Pakula, the physical education teacher who will run the West team said. “Students can sign up for that in the summer, and throughout the year, we would have the seasons.”
This summer, Kleinhans hopes to get a big turnout from students at the new camp.
“We have an Adapted Sports League summer camp through the district,” he said. “We already have 16 people signed up, and we are looking for 20.”
Pakula hopes to see this as an opportunity to increase school spirit and involvement among special education students.
“We would like to see a lot of student involvement as being involved in extracurricular activities can help mentally, socially, and academically,” she said. “This is also an opportunity to get a better representation of our student body in the athletic field.”
Kleinhans looks forward to what is to come with this league, knowing this can greatly impact special education students.
“I am so excited about this opportunity for our students and their families,” he said. “It has been great to see how excited the students are about the league, and I can't wait to see them in action.”
The Adapted Sports League would provide students with a competitive FVA-like league, with hopes that this can grow into a big presence across the Fox Valley.
“This would have an impact on all students in that it's just about being a typical kid,” Pakula said. “They are doing the same thing any other student would do, being in extracurriculars and a competitive athletic environment by competing with students from other schools and districts. Just because one has a disability doesn’t mean they can’t do things.”
Recently, some students participated in a soccer game, a practice run for the eventual league. This was an uplifting experience for many and a stepping stone for what this league has to show.
“At the end of the initial practices, Oshkosh North came over, and we did a North vs. West game,” Pakula said. “We had the scoreboard up, socially distanced fans, but unfortunately, North came out victorious but not for lack of effort. It was a great time for everyone.”
While preparation has been taking place now, the league will officially begin in the fall with an indoor soccer league. There will be practices and games against Oshkosh North.
“In the fall, we will have a program, running practices twice a week, and we will have games, West vs. North,” Kleinhans said. “In the fall, we’ll do indoor soccer. In the winter, we’ll do floor hockey, and in spring, we’ll do wiffleball.”
With the many different activities, the Adapted Sports League will be able to give students a chance to be included in competitive action.
“This league is developed to provide special education students with the equal opportunity that they deserve; right now, there is only Special Olympics,” Kleinhans said. “So having an actual high school varsity-level sports team would be great, while also keeping them involved with the school, building the school program and camaraderie.”
Kleinhans still remembers when the league was just an idea. He looks forward to seeing this idea grow across the district and the Fox Valley, everything that’s in store in the future.
“I want to thank everybody for the support we have gotten so far; I have been talking about this to myself for the past three years,” he said. “Now I’m starting to see staff and students get involved. It’s really cool to see everybody building around these kids and providing them the opportunity that is necessary for them to get involved in a school-sponsored sport.”
Kleinhans hopes to get more publicity for this league, as Adapted Sports has the potential to become a significant part of OASD in the coming years.
“We are hoping to get the word around about this program, try to get more people to understand what this program is about, and hopefully do a big event sometime next year,” he said. “We’re trying to get as many people hyped as we can, and once we see that, the parents will get on board, and it will blow up in popularity.”
Special education teacher Stephanie Polak sees this as a great opportunity and loved observing the enthusiasm of the students.
“I am so excited about this opportunity for our students and their families,” she said. “It has been great to see how excited the students are about the league, and I can't wait to see them in action.”
This is an opportunity for all students to be included in competitive sports, and Pakula is excited to embark on this journey that can change the community.
“It is so important to have all students participate in all activities, and that’s what our community represents and how we interact with each other,” she said. “It can be a chance for students to play a sport comfortably, in a place where they are going to be accepted and supported. Knowing that there are so many possibilities is very exciting.”
by Zade Alzoubi and Drew Lasky
Published March 25, 2021
Oshkosh West Index Volume 117 Issue VI