There has been nothing more disappointing in my career than to see youth with disabilities sit on the sidelines while the rest of the class or team get to play and have fun. As an adapted physical activity specialist many years ago, my job was to find creative ways to modify a game or sport so that a child with a physical, cognitive, or sensory disability could, at the very least, be in class with his or her peers, even though the opportunity to compete or win the game may not be an option. The social part of being on a team is nice, but that's not what it's all about. The other dimension to a sport or game is that you have the opportunity to be one of the main players -- the boy or girl who gets a big hit or makes an important basket. That opportunity doesn't come often, if ever, for youth with disabilities, but there's no reason why it shouldn't.

To read this month's Director's Column, go to http://www.ncpad.org/796/4178/A~Holiday~Physical~Activity~Gift~for~Children~with~Disabilities.