Easy-Read Circuit for Intellectual Disabilities

A service-learning project with a special education class or association: groups create easy-read cards, with a single action, a drawing and few words, for each station of a movement circuit. The class tests the circuit using only the cards and demonstration, with no long explanations.

How to play

1. Present the easy-read guidelines: short sentences, one idea per sentence, present-tense verbs, a clear pictogram or drawing and large print (4 min).
2. Five groups each set up a station (cone zigzag, hoop-to-hoop jumps, throwing at a target, walking on a balance bench, rolling a ball) and draw their card (8 min).
3. Test: the class goes through the circuit in pairs reading only the cards; the authors watch without speaking and note confusion (8 min).
4. Each group rewrites the part of its card that caused confusion (4 min).
5. Second lap with the improved cards, now with one leader per station who may only demonstrate and encourage (6 min).

Rules

• At the balance bench station, a classmate always stands alongside offering a hand.
• During the test, authors may not explain their station in words.
• Cards use no technical terms and no numbers above 10.
• Take turns: one pair per station.

Variations

Adaptations

• Visual impairment: the card comes with a tactile object that represents the action and a short spoken explanation.
• Wheelchair user: the bench is replaced by a line on the floor to follow and the jumps by throws into the hoop.
• Dyslexia: handles the drawing in their group and checks that sentences are short.

Learning goals

• Adapt how movement tasks are communicated to people with intellectual disabilities.
• Test the effectiveness of a support material in practice and improve it.
• Foster inclusive attitudes and respect for diversity.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cards: 10
• cones: 12
• hoops: 6
• rubber balls: 6
• Swedish benches: 2

Teacher tip

If you are working with a special education center, ask its teachers to review the cards before the real session. Laminated cards can be reused for inclusive recess.

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