STEM STUDENTS VISIT UTA ’ S WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL TEAM
group of fifth graders from
A Alma Martinez STEM Academy are working together to design field day events that are accessible to everyone – whether students are in a wheelchair , deaf , blind , or have another disability .
To gain first-hand experience of what it ’ s like to play sports with a disability , the students traveled to the University of Texas at Arlington to meet the Lady Movin ’ Mavs wheelchair basketball team , two-time national champions . The Movin ’ Mavs played a scrimmage so the students could see how they play .
STEM teacher Patricia Londono said the biggest takeaway for the students was empathy – learning to see a situation from someone else ’ s point of view .
“ The more information they have and the bigger their background knowledge is , the better prepared they ’ ll be ,” Lodono said . “ Experiences are something extremely important to give kids .”
Once the students ’ designs are complete , they ’ ll present the activities to campus coaches and administrators for consideration .
“ It was awesome . They ’ re aggressive , and I just loved it . It was very intense . They were bumping into each other , trying to steal the ball from one another ,” said student Natalie Gabaldon .
Once the scrimmage was over , students strapped into the wheelchairs to shoot some hoops . They learned that basketball is a whole new ballgame when you are sitting down .
“ With them getting in the wheelchairs , that was a huge empathy piece , because it ’ s a big part of it so they can understand why they are doing what they are doing .”
Patricia Londono Alma Martinez STEM Academy Electives Designer
“ When you see the professionals play , it looks so easy ; but when you try it for yourself , if you don ’ t have practice in a wheelchair , you ’ re going to have to focus on one thing and then stop and focus on another ,” said student Marcus Zelalem . “ That ’ s what makes it hard to shoot because , when you ’ re playing , you have to focus on many things to get a good shot .”
“ It is a little hard because I can ’ t really jump while shooting . I think I just need to do more arm strength and maybe I ’ ll be able to shoot ,” Gabaldon said .
The students will think strategically to create adaptative activities when designing and prototyping the 2024 field day .
Students from Alma Martinez STEM Academy warm up with the twotime national champion , Lady Movin ’ Mavs , wheelchair basketball team .
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