Engaging Parents in Adapted Physical Education: Insights from Dr. Adam Forbes

Welcome back to another exciting episode of What's New in Adapted Physical Education (APE) where we sat down with Dr. Adam Forbes, a new faculty member at Norfolk State University, to discuss his insights and research on parental perceptions of APE and the critical role parents play in enhancing these services. In these conversations, Dr. Forbes emphasized that parental involvement is key to the success of APE programs and highlights the need for clear communication between APE teachers and parents. In addition, Dr. Forbes explains that “parents need to see the value in APE, but that starts with us showing them what their children are achieving.” The conversation continues by discussing actionable strategies to help APE teachers engage parents more effectively, such as visual communication and highlighting the benefits. By improving communication, developing meaningful relationships, and sharing the impact of APE, PE/APE teachers can create higher quality PE experiences for students with disabilities. As Forbes concluded, “APE isn’t just about physical activity—it’s about creating opportunities for children to thrive in every aspect of their lives. Parents are a critical part of that journey.”