Colton, CA—On Tuesday, January 24th, Mr. Craig Martin’s special education class enjoyed a period of soccer, football, and volleyball on the Memorial Stadium turf during second period along with several general education students as part of Colton High’s PossAbilities program. 

According to Martin, this is the 10th year they have joined general education students for P.E. 

“Previously we did this with Ms. [Angela] Reynolds class,” he said. “This is actually the first year we’re doing it with a new teacher, Mr. Collins.”

Mr. Collins was excited about the collaboration. “I thought it would be a great way to get his kids to socialize and play sports and have a good time with my class,” Collins said. “I really enjoy seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces.”

Martin’s special education class will be joining Collins’s second period PE class every Tuesday for the remainder of the year. Students will engage in all the same activities as the general education P.E. students.

The purpose of the PossAbilities program is about helping students with moderate-to-severe disabilities socialize with their non-disabled peers. Not only is it helping Martin’s students make friends and form bonds, it is helping Collins’s students, too. 

Jesse Rodriguez said, “It’s kinda cool that they’re going to be interacting with us.”

“I think it’s very wholesome and positive and a good idea and we should continue it,” said Freshman student Nayleah Ruvalcaba.

In addition to combining P.E. and special education, PossAbilities is a club that partners volunteer general education students with their special education peers to engage in extracurricular fun.