A program at Pella High School is keeping students active while fostering friendships that on the surface, seem unlikely.

Adaptive Physical Education aims to acclimate students with specials needs with the rest of the school population through activities.

Peer helpers apply to be a part of the class, and a select number of juniors and seniors are accepted. P.E. Teacher Bob Fessler says they are then paired daily with those with various intellectual disabilities to participate in a variety of sports and games.

“In essence, on the needs side, we are probably doing elementary-level P.E., but it’s with helpers,” he says. “So we’ll have everything from autism, down syndrome, wheelchair based, mobility or a behavioral-type issue, but we pair them with a helper and that’s how we go through class.”

Senior Alice Lickteig has been a part of the program for the past two years, and says it has changed her plans for life after high school.

“Last year, I wasn’t sure what field I wanted to go into, but these past two years I’ve truly found that working with special needs kids is my passion and it’s something that I’m going to go into after college,” Lickteig says. “It inspires me day-to-day to just work with them and be able to just how to deal with different problems they have.”

Hear more about the Adaptive P.E. program at Pella High School on today’s Let’s Talk Pella.