適應體育旨在因應身心障礙學生的不同需要,調整運動器材與運動方式,鼓勵障礙者參與運動的課程。其內涵如下:一、運動對象的個別差異性:個別差異包括個體內差異和個別間差異,適應體育就是體認身心障礙者的身心特質,開立合適的運動處方。二、運動方式的調整:方便身心障礙者參與運動,可以改變運動器材、規則,甚至創新運動項目,開闢身心障礙者的運動途徑。三、避免強調身心障礙者本身的特質,以免造成二度傷害。適應體育有不同的社會學、心理學、哲學之理論基礎,可衍生後現代的對話,從後現代的觀點來看,主流運動追求人類身心的完美,強調運動競技,提出「更快、更高、更強」的競爭口號,這裡超越自己及他人的原則是值得省思的,適應體育的反主體性,重視弱勢的觀點很符合後現代的詮釋。所以邁向後現代之路的適應體育,應排除菁英主義的運動思想,打破運動美學獨尊完美性的框架,採取身心障礙者為中心的「適應」方式,運動資源應採取「制度化」的分配模式。
The purpose of adapted physical education is to adjust sports apparatus as well as sports events in order to meet the various sports needs of students with disabilities. It characterizes as (a) stressing the importance of students' individual differences; (b) altering sports equipment as well as creating new sports items, and (c.) avoiding to focus on the facts of students' physical impairments and to prevent from secondary harm. Based on the application of the theories of sociology, psychology and philosophy in adapted physical education, a postmodern dialog emerged. Since the mainstream sports emphasize on pursuing perfection of human body and mind, ”faster, higher, stronger” become the ultimate goal in sport competitions. However, as far as adapted physical education is concerned, it should abolish the idea of superiority in sport competition, and stop pursuing perfectionism of sport aesthetics. Instead, an ”adapted model of disabled athlete-centered” should be established, and an institutional model of allocating sport resources should be implemented as well.