ABSTRACT
Physical activity provided the foundation for what now can be called adapted physical activity as the umbrella term and the emergence of adapted physical education in the education arena. Although the terminology of adapted physical education (APE) was founded in the United States (US) context and exists primarily in the US, programs of physical education for individuals with disabilities have been in existence, and have evolved across time, around the world. As physical education programs for individuals of varying abilities grew and expanded, professional preparation of educators, including APE specialists, was needed. Scientific inquiry, research methodology, and professional practices of adapted physical education are evident today and adapted physical education should be recognized as a service delivery profession and an academic field of study. In this chapter, I provide an overview of the historical milestones in the development and evolution of APE.
