Contents Adaptive PE flourishes at Hartnell College Hartnell program focuses on student health and fitness Few instructors have more compassion and understanding of their students' needs than Hartnell College's Melissa Stave. An instructor for 21 years in adaptive physical education at the 7,900-student campus in Salinas, Stave works with students who have heart disease, chronic pain and a variety of physical and psychological disabilities. Rod Rozin and Melissa Stave in the weight room. Rozin is a regular participant in the Hartnell College adapative PE program and credits it for not only improving his health and fitness but his outlook as well. Below, Ann Brown works out while instructor Yvonne Reid supervises. Over the years, Stave has come to know the best way to assist each of her students in reaching their maximum fitness goals. But when Stave suffered a debilitating back injury in 1992, she learned firsthand what it meant to have chronic pain herself - and to recover from it. And, last year, when she developed lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease, she was once again reminded of what many of her students face. More empathy "When I had my back injury, I really understood chronic pain, and I became better at my job. Having lupus, right now, I know I'm better at my job than I have ever been. I have so much more empathy for my students," Stave said. | |
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