ABSTRACT
Charity is a 13-year-old Native American girl who attends Black Hills Middle School outside of Buffalo Gap, South Dakota. Charity has Down syndrome concomitant with mild intellectual disabilities. She is included in general physical education (PE) and participates in regular physical activities. Her teacher, Ms. Calhoun, describes Charity as a very social and outgoing child. The general PE classes at Black Hills Middle School are team taught by Mr. Wovoka, a certified PE teacher, and Ms. Calhoun. Although she does teach GPE classes, Ms. Calhoun was trained and still teaches within a special education unit at the school. She does not yet have certification in physical education. However, Ms. Calhoun’s experiences teaching students with disabilities are extensive. In this case, the challenges of including a student with Down syndrome concomitant with mild intellectual disabilities in general PE classes are highlighted. Further highlighted is the need for today’s teachers to be culturally fluent in teaching all students with knowledge and skills necessary to do so effectively.
