Overview
Matthew Barker’s professional journey in adapted physical education began in 2011, evolving from an adventure sports instructor for children with special needs to a renowned Itinerant Adapted PE teacher and a keynote speaker at international conferences. His career is marked by innovative teaching techniques, development of adapted equipment, and significant contributions to global adapted PE curriculum. Barker’s leadership in securing resources, fostering inclusivity, and his entrepreneurial ventures, including founding JustAdaptIt.com, highlight his dedication to enhancing physical education for students with disabilities, earning him multiple awards and international recognition.
Books
Awards
- 2025 SHAPE America Southern District Adapted PE Teacher of the Year
- 2023 Virginia AHPERD Adapted PE Teacher of the Year
- 2022 FCPS Individual Excellence Award for Innovation
- 2021 Most Inclusive Youth Sport & Fitness Enterprise β Mid-Atlantic USA for the 2021 Fitness & Nutrition Award for EnrichEd.
- 2021 Physical Education Class Setup Hall of Fame https://www.cbhpe.org/hof
Membership and Involvement
- SHAPE America Member
- Virginia AHPERD VP Elect for PE, & Presenter
- Virginia Adapted PE Consortium (VAPEC) Webmaster & Social Media
Articles
- PALAESTRA Vol 33: Practical Pointer: Digital APE β Data Tracking Tool by Matthew Barker (Published 2019)
- PALEASTRA Vol 37: Creating Flexibility for Adapted Physical Education Teachers in Supporting Children with Disabilities Using Google Sites and Google Forms by Adam Forbes & Matthew Barker (Published 2023)
- JustAdaptIt.com: Bridging Ability and Activity through Assistive Technology in Adapted PE (Published January 2024)
- SHAPE America Blog: 10 Super Simple Equipment Modifications to Support Your Students in PE
- Just Adapt It. Posts
Presentations
2024 Sample Presentations
Here are just a few highlights from my 2024 speaking engagements and educational workshops focused on adaptive physical education and inclusive practices:
- “Bridging Ability and Activity with Assistive Technology in Adapted PE” – SHAPE PA
- “Just Adapt It:” – Virginia AHPERD
- “Building Inclusive PE Programs: A Practical Workshop” – CSU Long Beach
Some highlights from mine, @NMcCoy_APE and @LongviewAPE 's presentation on #AssistiveTechnology in #AdaptedPE @SHAPE_PA last week πNext stop @SHAPEAmerica National Conference in Baltimore! pic.twitter.com/ruLPyWSqhL
— π¦Matt Barker β½οΈπ πͺπ¨π©πΌπππ₯π©ππ©.ππ€π’ (@DigitTheAPE) November 13, 2024
One check out my Just Adapt It. #AdaptedPE session at @vahperd today at 9 π pic.twitter.com/OaVFbVDde5
— π¦Matt Barker β½οΈπ πͺπ¨π©πΌπππ₯π©ππ©.ππ€π’ (@DigitTheAPE) November 9, 2024
Was an amazing experience guest lecturing for the students @CSULB_APE here is a video with some highlights! π₯ by @kendyl_nowels π #AdaptedPE pic.twitter.com/wgyiLxuPtK
— π¦Matt Barker β½οΈπ πͺπ¨π©πΌπππ₯π©ππ©.ππ€π’ (@DigitTheAPE) October 15, 2024
| Conference | Title | Date | Location | Co-Presenter | Website |
| NC SHAPE Convention | 1. Bridging Ability and Activity Through Assistive Technology in APE. | December 4 – 5, 2025 | Winston-Salem, NC | SHAPE NC | |
| 2. Adapting PE SoΒ Everybody Can Play | |||||
| 3. Inclusive Pickleball | |||||
| NYSAHPERD 87th Annual Conference | 1. Bridging Ability and Activity Through Assistive Technology in APE | November 19 – 22, 2025 | Verona, NY | Jeff Watkins, Nicole McCoy | NYAHPERD |
| 2. Inclusive Pickleball | |||||
| 2025 MNDAPE Conference – | 1. Bridging Ability and Activity Through Assistive Technology in APE | September 25-26, 2025 | Annandale, MN | MNDAPE | |
| 2. Adapting PE SoΒ Everybody Can Play | |||||
| 2025 SHAPE America National Convention & Expo | Bridging Ability and Activity Through Assistive Technology in APE | April 1-5, 2025 | Baltimore, MD | Jeff Watkins, Nicole McCoy | SHAPE America |
| 7th School-based OT and PT Symposium | Adapting PE Activities | March 27, 2025 | Virtual | Website | |
| ECHO Ties 24-25 | Bridging Ability and Activity Through Assistive Technology in APE | March 12, 2025 | Virtual | ECHO Ties | |
| Virginia AHPERD 87th Annual Convention | 1. Bridging Ability and Activity Through Assistive Technology in APE | 8-10 November 2024 | Virginia Beach, VA | Virginia AHPERD | |
| 2. Just Adapt It. | |||||
| SHAPE PA State Conference | 1. Bridging Ability and Activity Through Assistive Technology in APE | 7-8 November 2024 | Manheim, PA | Nicole McCoy, Jeff Watkins | SHAPE PA |
| 2. Just Adapt It. | |||||
| San Diego Unified School District | 2-Hour Adapted PE Workshop | 11 October 2024 | San Diego, CA | ||
| California State University Long Beach (CSULB) Project CAPE Workshop | 1. ACT Practicum- Inclusive Pickleball Session | 9 October 2024 1400-1500 | Long Beach, CA | CSULB | |
| 2. Guest Lecture: Project CAPE | 9 October 2024 1600-1730 | ||||
| 3. Guest Lecture: APE Undergrads | 10 October 2024 1400-1550 | ||||
| 4. ASAPP- Adapted Baseball Session | 10 October 2024 1600-11730 | ||||
| SHAPE Colorado | 1. Bridging Ability and Activity Through Assistive Technology in APE | 8 October 2024 0900-0950 | Denver, CO | SHAPE CO | |
| 2. Just Adapt It. | 7 October 2024 1315-1405 | ||||
| 3. Inclusive Pickleball | 7 October 2024 0900-950 | ||||
| NCPEID APE Collaborative | Advocacy in Adapted P.E. | 24 September 2024 1200 EST | Video Conference | Suzanna Dillon | NCPEID |
| Adapted Physical Education Content Academy (CTA 2024) | 1. Just Adapt It & Inclusive Pickleball | June 2024 | Harrisonburg, VA | JMU CTA | |
| 2. Bridging Ability and Activity Through Assistive Technology in APE | Jeff Watkins | ||||
| The International Scientific Conference: Theory & Practice in APE | Keynote: Bridging Ability and Activity Through Assistive Technology in APE | 6-7 March 2024 | Sharjah, United Arab Emirates | International Scientific Conference | |
| Fairfax County’s Third Annual Adapted P.E. National Conference | 1. Just Adapt It Resource Share | 27 February 2024 | Alexandria VA- Virtual | FCPS APE Program | |
| 2. Bridging Ability and Activity Through Assistive Technology in APE | |||||
| Catskill Zone Mini-Conference | Cross Curricular Activities in Adapted P.E. | 7 November 2023 | New York- Hybrid | ||
| Real Assistive Technology for Everyone (RATE) Conference | Just Adapt It. Assistive Technology in Adapted P.E. | 28 October 2023 | Springfield, VA | Genie Yurgaites, Lauren Goodrum | |
| MAMC | Panelist on Current State of Adapted PE in K-12 Setting | 27 July 2023 | Arlington, VA | ||
| Texas Region 10: Adapted PE Summit | Just Adapt It. Assistive Technology in Adapted P.E. | 13 September 2023 | Texas- Hybrid | ||
| Adapted Physical Education Content Academy (CTA 2023) | 1. Just Adapt It. Assistive Technology in Adapted P.E. | 26 June 2023 | Harrisonburg, VA | Jeff Watkins | JMU CTA |
| 2. Cross Curricular Activities in Adapted P.E. | Jeff Watkins | ||||
| Fairfax County’s Second Annual Adapted P.E. National Conference | 1. Just Adapt It. Assistive Technology in Adapted P.E. | 14 April 2023 | Alexandria VA- Virtual | – | – |
| 2. Cross Curricular Activities in Adapted P.E. | |||||
| Colorado Department of Education: Adapted PE Conference | 1. Cross Curricular Activities in Adapted P.E. | 9 March 2023 | Colorado- Virtual | Colorado DoE | |
| 2. ATS in APE | 7 March 2023 | ||||
| Virginia AHPERD 85th Annual Convention | ATS in APE | 6 November 2022 | Reston, VA | Jeff Watkins | VAHPERD Convention |
| NAHPL Eastern Seaboard Region Adapted Physical Activity Summit | ATS in APE | 28 June 2022 (Virtual) | Rhode Island- Virtual | Jeff Watkins | NAHPL |
| Adapted Physical Education Content Academy (CTA 2022) | ATS in APE | 27 June 2022 | Harrisonburg, VA | Jeff Watkins | JMU CTA |
| SHAPE Maryland Spring Fling | Using Switch Adapted Equipment and Green Screens in your Adapted PE Program | 19 April 2022 | Montgomery College, Rockville, MD | Jeff Watkins | SHAPE Maryland |
| Fairfax County’s First Annual Adapted P.E. National Conference | Technology that Enriches Instruction | 9 March 2022 | Virginia- Virtual | Debbie LoCastro | – |
| World of Possibilities Expo | Ultimate Workout and Recovery Demonstration for Adapted P.E. | 23 October 2021 | College Park, Maryland | – | World of Possibilities |
| Fairfax County Assistive Technology Services RATE Conference | ATS in APE (Video) | 23 October 2021 | Pre-recorded video | – | FCPS ATS |
| Elementary PE Workshop (EPEW 2021) | Future A.P.E. | 11 July 2021 | California- Virtual | – | EPEW |
| International Workshop: Designing Effective Non-contact Active Play and PE Activities for Childrenβs Classes | Creating Interactive Virtual Content | 9 January 2021 | Switzerland- Virtual | CAPS World | |
| 49th National Adapted P.E. Conference (NAPEC 2020) | Welcome to the Jungle: Creating Structure for Small Group PE | 14 November 2020 | California- Virtual | Mark Spicer | CAHPERD |
| 2019 ISAPA | Applied Behavior Analysis in Adapted Physical Education | June 14-18 2019 | Charlottesville, VA | Katie Smith, Courtney Wolfson, Alexia Flynn | ISAPA 2019 |
| Adapted Physical Education Content Academy (CTA 2019) | Video Modeling | 26 June 2019 | Harrisonburg, VA | Mark Spicer |
Podcast Guest Appearances
Websites
Netflex Kids: https://netflexkids.com/
Just Adapt It.: https://justadaptit.com/
EnrichEd: https://enrichedva.com/
Digit the APE Linktree: https://linktr.ee/DigitTheAPE
Social Media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DigitTheAPE/media
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NetflexKids/featured
Coaching Certifications
Soccer– U.S. Soccer E and F License
Pickleball– Level 1 PPR Certified Professional