On Friday, September 29, Texas A&M University-Commerce (A&M-Commerce) opened its doors to students of all abilities from Commerce Independent School District (CISD) for a Special Education Mini Field Day. The event, which aimed to promote physical activity, social interaction, and overall enjoyment, saw over 50 CISD students in attendance along with several teachers and staff members. General education students from A&M-Commerce also participated as peer mentors.
The Special Education Mini Field Day was hosted in two main locations: the Nursing and Health Sciences Building's Pedagogy and Physical Activity Lab and Campus Recreation's outdoor turf courts. At these venues, students engaged in a variety of activities designed to cater to different abilities.
A team of twelve A&M-Commerce students, representing the Department of Health and Human Performance and the Honors College, took the lead in organizing and facilitating the activity stations. These stations included scooter tag, pickleball, flag tag, bowling, an obstacle course, and an inflatable football throwing station provided by Special Olympics Texas.
Dr. Kelly Featherston, a key figure behind the event, emphasized the importance of such community engagement events. She noted that they provide unique experiences for students from smaller districts like CISD while also giving A&M-Commerce kinesiology students an opportunity to apply the skills they've learned in class, including motor development, adapted physical education, and teaching methods.
