Increasing opportunities in Physical education for Students with Disabilities Ratchaneekorn tongsookdee

AbStRACt T hailand's National Education Act This study examined the National Curriculum for Physical Education, a requirement for all students in Thailand, and three Physical Education curricula for teacher training of the Faculty of Education, Chiang Mai University; the Faculty of Education, Chiang Mai Rajabhat University; and the Institute of Physical Education, Chiang Mai Campus, in order to analyze: (1) the content and objectives of the National Curriculum for Physical Education as it relates to students with or without disabilities; (2) the content and objectives of major courses in each curriculum that are targeted to students, both with and without disabilities; (3) views and experiences of specialists in a focus group providing services to students with disabilities in PE classes and (4) the relevant laws in Thailand and the United States that mandate Physical Education at all levels of compulsory education -K to 12. Based on this background, the study then proposes ways to manage constraints and increase opportunities in physical education for students with disabilities, based on research findings and a focus group of educators, school administrators, special education teachers and paraprofessionals