Adapted Physical Activity Council--different perspectives on a name.

Shout Cause AND Organization--APAC is the Right Name (Claudine Sherrill)

Adapted Physical Activity Council (APAC) was the right name in 1985, when it was first adopted, and is the right name today. I differ from Julian Stein on the meaning of adapted physical activity (APA) in that my heart, mind, and soul identify with such vehicles as Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly (APAQ) founded in 1984; International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (IFAPA) organized in 1973; and my textbook titled Adapted Physical Activity, Recreation, and Sport since its fourth edition in 1993. These vehicles all SHOUT the cause that APAC advocates: healthy, lifespan adapted physical activity for all in as many settings as participants desire (e.g., inclusive, least restrictive, specially designed; recreational, instructive, competitive, health-oriented; and so on).

In most countries of the world, adapted physical activity is the term of choice (Hutzler & Sherrill, 2007). First used by French-speaking Canadians when they founded IFAPA, the term APA was inclusive from its onset. The earliest statement of IFAPA's purpose was "to give global focus to professionals who use adapted physical activities for instruction, recreation, remediation, and research" (Eason, Smith, & Caron, 1983, p. xi). Moreover, the founders of APAQ visualized recreation and physical education as key stakeholders in the development of an adapted physical activity knowledge base. During the first two years of APAQ, one of the Associate Editors (Herberta Lundegren, Pennsylvania State University) and six Editorial Board members were recreation scholars. Only when these scholars and their replacements failed to generate recreation-oriented manuscripts for APAQ, did the dream fade of a high quality research journal shared equally by physical education and recreation. Nevertheless, the current APAQ editorial mission lists recreation as one of the 11 "disciplines from which scholarship may originate." Current APAQ Editorial Board members perceive themselves as interdisciplinary or cross-disciplinary scholars rather than being identified with a single academic area.

Increasingly, the world recognizes APA as (a) activities or service delivery adapted for persons (of all ages) with movement difficulties, (b) a profession, and (c) an academic field of study (Hutzler & Sherrill, 2007). Some leaders believe APA meets traditional criteria to qualify as a discipline or subdiscipline rather than as only a field of study (Sherrill & DePauw, 1997). Numerous organizations feature APA in their name. Professionals are proud of this name; they have fought long for it to acquire universal meaning and respect. The name infers cooperation among professionals from many fields, all giving their personal bests to enhance quality of life FOR ALL through physical activity. The name also appropriately describes professionals who see themselves as 50% recreation and 50% physical education or as practicing other disciplinary combinations.

Stein (2007) states that the rejection of the proposed name Adapted Recreation and Physical Activity Council by APAC members was "based on the fact that most members were almost exclusively involved in school-centered adapted physical education." Without research, it is impossible to know reasons for their overwhelming vote to preserve the name of their profession. Among these, however, may be (a) widespread belief that APA encompasses recreation, as well as adapted physical education; (b) respect for the umbrella term APA, even though they may identify mostly with physical education; (c) belief that good adapted physical education professionals practice recreation and know to call on therapeutic recreation specialists when available; and (d) belief that longevity of a name is powerful in helping outsiders understand and support the mission and purpose of separate professions that support adaptations as a major means of achieving lifespan physical activity for all.

APAC members were not saying no to recreation personnel; they were inviting them to become more actively involved in the Council and to accept the broad, inclusive meaning of APA. It should be noted that Adapted Physical Education is NOT in the Council's name; to also exclude recreation from APAC is to give equal treatment to two professions. To address the argument that recreation includes many program areas (e.g., music, drama, debate, gardening) besides physical activity would require more space than PALAESTRA allots. Let's continue to be friends, communicate, and work for the common good. And Buddy (Julian Stein's nickname), I am so sorry to have to disagree with you. Everyone knows how much I treasure you as mentor and friend. It is wonderful when persons like us can openly disagree, thereby bringing different perspectives to PALAESTRA, and providing a model of two-article issues, each taking a different side.

Selected References

Eason, R. L., Smith, T. L., & Caron, F. (Eds.), (1983). Adapted physical activity: From theory to practice: Proceedings of the Third Symposium on Adapted Physical Activity. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Hutzler, Y., & Sherrill, C. (2007). Defining adapted physical activity: International perspectives. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 24, 1-20.

Sherrill, C., & DePauw, K.P. (1977). Adapted physical activity and education. In J.D. Massengale & R.A. Swanson (Eds.). The history of exercise and sport science (pp. 39-108). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Stein, J.U. (2007). An open letter to APAC: Shout the cause--Whisper the organization. PALAESTRA, 23(1), 55-56.

Shout the Cause--Whisper the Organization (Julian Stein)

During 2005 merger deliberations about the Adapted Physical Activity Council (APAC), involving representatives of the American Association for Active Lifestyles .and Fitness (AAALF), and the American Association for Leisure and Recreation (AALR), the name felt most appropriate for the structure dealing with activities for individuals with disabilities in the new Association, finally approved, was Adapted Recreation and Physical Activity Council. This it was thought, represented interests of both Therapeutic Council and Adapted Physical Activity Council. Leaders, and many members, from APAC not only rejected the new name, but also reacted almost violently. Rationale for their objection was based upon the fact that most members were almost exclusively involved in school-centered adapted physical education.

This, in my opinion, is self-centered, and exclusionary with much tunnel vision. It fails to recognize beneficial physical activities for individuals with disabilities are found in many different situations--not only in schools, but also through aquatics, dance, and sports, and in the community centers, camps, hospitals, clinics, and with families and friends. Much rhetoric emphasized importance of inter-disciplinary cooperation. Unfortunately, emphases implemented by APAC members are totally inconsistent with such oratory.

Former AAALF and AALR merged in January, 2006, becoming the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation (AAPAR). Some councils and substructures for the former Associations became councils or substructures in AAPAR.

Adapted Physical Activity Council was the name of the structure in AAALF. This name had been selected and approved in the early 1980s when the former Adapted Physical Education Academy (National Association for Sports and Physical Education (NASPE) and Therapeutic Council (AAALF) were merged by AAHPERD Board mandate. Representatives from the Adapted Physical Education Academy, Therapeutic Council, and the then Unit on Programs for the Handicapped, met with both NASPE and AAALF staff and officers to obtain information about governance, operations, and others factors affecting the merged structure to determine which of these Associations would be the better fit. AAALF was unanimously chosen, and Adapted Physical Activity Council determined to be the most appropriate name to reflect the broad mission of this newly merged structure.

This mission encompassed adapted physical education in the schools, adapted physical activities (including dance, aquatics, and sports) in other settings, and therapeutic uses of physical activities in various organizational patterns and different settings. Over the years APAC leadership and membership have been dominated by individuals primarily involved in school-centered adapted physical education. Because of almost exclusive attention to school-centered adapted physical education, numbers of professionals interested in other areas using physical activities to meet the needs of individuals with various disabilities, regardless of environments, gradually withdrew, and did not participate in APAC activities. This spiral has continued and deepened, resulting in even greater attention to school-centered adapted physical education, while reducing attention to other uses of and settings for physical activities for participants with disabilities.

APAC politicked, and was able to get the recommended name--Adapted Recreation and Physical Activity--changed back to APAC. In a time when increased, not less, understanding and cooperation are needed, this action goes in the wrong direction. This shuts out professionals from the old AALR Therapeutic Council, and fuels what are undoubtedly already ruffled feathers.

Although it is highly unlikely APAC leaders and members will change their position regarding the name, many things should be done to show true professionalism, regardless of structure name. Amend by-laws to ensure representation in leadership positions by professionals from therapeutic recreation. Make concerted efforts to promote and conduct activities to attract professionals involved in serving those with disabilities in other than school-centered adapted physical education. Insure a selected number of convention programs are reserved for therapeutic recreation topics. Make professionals from therapeutic recreation feel a part of--not apart from all APAC ventures. Such steps are extremely important to insure APAC maintains its focus on individual participants across the full life span, regardless of ages, disabilities, or severity of conditions.

The Tommy Wilson Award (AALR) has been presented since the late 1970s to individuals who have made "... significant contributions through recreation for the handicapped." Traditionally this award has been presented in conjunction with the annual J.B. Nash Lecture. This award is more in keeping with APAC (regardless of its name) than the J.B. Nash Lecture, and would be a most appropriate, and welcome addition to awards and recognitions presented at the Annual Claudine Sherrill/APAC breakfast. This would have to be agreed to by leaders in recreation. It would also be another giant step forward to true understanding, cooperation, and inter-disciplinary efforts in healing old wounds. These items should be on the agenda and goals to accomplish prior to the 2007 AAHPERD Convention and Exposition in Baltimore.

Claudine Sherrill, Professor Emertus from Texas Woman's University, Department of Kinesiology, residing at 11168 Windjammr Drive, Frisco, TX 75034; [phone]; [e-mail]; is Issues Department Editor. Julian U. Stein, 283 Mahoney Road, Oliver Springs, TN 37840; Phone/FAX [phone]; [e-mail], also contributed to this installment of Issues.