SUBMITTED
A Real-World Learning project from students at Carleton Place District High School (CPHS) is aiming to break down barriers in physical education for blind or low vision students across the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB).
The Grade 12 Leadership Class collaborated with the UCDSB Vision Resource Team to better understand the needs of students with low vision during physical activity. After discussion, each student was asked to create three different games: one that required no equipment, one that required low equipment and one that required high equipment.
“The first game I made was Echo Tag – no equipment, just sound,” said student Bryn Hardie. “My low-equipment game was Four Square with tactile tape and a ball with a bell, and for high equipment, I modified basketball. Players sat and we lowered the nets. It really made me think about how to make games safer and fairer for everyone.”
Games were first tested in a gymnasium with the CPHS leadership class and then piloted with two elementary schools, including Caldwell Street Elementary School in Carleton Place and The Stewart School in Perth. The final test will be done with Pakenham Public School students in early May.
Hardie explained that younger students, especially those in kindergarten, helped provide essential feedback on how to adapt both instructions and gameplay for various ages and abilities.
“Explaining the games was sometimes the hardest part,” Hardie said. “It really pushed us to think differently about how we communicate. We also wanted to help kids understand why we’re doing this – why accessibility matters.”
Caldwell student Kalli Palmer, who lives with low vision, spoke about the personal impact.
“I have zero depth perception, so playing games is usually tough,” Palmer said. “But these adapted games made it a lot easier for me to join in and have fun. Things like brighter equipment and clearer boundaries really helped.”
Using blindfolds, complementary colour schemes and tactile or auditory cues, the CPHS students tested and refined their games with safety and inclusion at the forefront. The project not only challenged assumptions about gym class but opened new possibilities for future educators and students alike.
“I grew up never thinking about how gym might be a barrier for someone,” said Hardie. “Now, seeing that we can make it better, it’s eye-opening. It feels good knowing we’re doing something that might help kids feel included.”
A total of 22 game kits will be created, with each including a binder with 60 adaptable game instructions, tactile and audio equipment, and accessibility-focused modifications. The team expects to have them completed by mid-May when the final equipment arrives.
The kits will be available in the UCDSB’s lending library and managed by the Vision Resource Team, which educators and schools throughout the board have access to. The aim is to have all kits available by the end of the school year or beginning of the 2025-26 school year.
“I think it’s fantastic seeing these students rally and identify a need within the community and the school board,” said CPHS Leadership Class Teacher Turner Onion. “They have all worked tirelessly to fulfill a need to make sure all kids are physically active.”
