For many students, a school day might begin with math, include a trip to the library, and end in the gym. But for a group of students in our multiple disabilities classrooms, a recent day looked a little different, it involved casting a line, feeling the tug of a trout, and smiling from ear to ear as they reeled in their very first catch.
In partnership with Springside Trout Farm in New Holland, our Adaptive Physical Education team organized a fishing trip thatwas an experience designed with intention, accessibility, and joy at its core. With the help of assistive technology, creative engineering, and a passionate team of educators, students who might not otherwise have had the opportunity to fish were given the tools and support they needed to fully participate and thrive.
As Adaptive PE teacher Brett McCoy shared, this idea was born in the fall and brought to life through months of collaboration across our Special Education team, district administration, and the Lancaster Education Foundation. “Kids need opportunities,” he said. “And for students with multiple disabilities, that often means reimagining what access can look like.”
That reimagining came to life in inventive and empowering ways. Using custom-built casting devices and switch-adapted electric reels, students were able to cast lines and reel independently some using head switches, others using buttons or levers they could control with their hands. The goal wasn’t just to help students go fishing, it was to help them fish on their own terms. These devices weren’t purchased off-the-shelf. They were imagined, engineered, and built specifically to meet the needs of our students, sometimes in collaboration with other district programs like robotics or building trades.
“It’s about creating core memories,” said Samantha Chiodi, an intermediate teacher in our multiple disabilities program. “Fishing was something I shared with my dad growing up. And now I get to pass that joy on to my students in a way that’s meaningful and accessible to them.”
Nicole McCoy, another longtime adaptive PE teacher, emphasized the importance of presuming competence. “Our students are just as capable,” she said. “They may use different tools, or need a bit more support, but they deserve the same chances to explore, learn, and enjoy the world.”
She explained how adaptive switches work in practice. “These devices respond to whatever motion a student can control, whether it’s a tap of the hand, a nod of the head, or pressing a lever. It’s not about what they can’t do, it’s about unlocking what they can do.”
For many students, this was their first time fishing. Some got to feel the tug of a trout on the line, while others simply enjoyed the peace of the outdoors, the cool breeze, or touching the fish they’d helped catch. No matter the level of engagement, every moment mattered.
And the impact didn’t end at the water’s edge. The fish were cleaned and packaged on-site, with some students bringing their catch home to share with their families, and others donating them to supportive teachers and staff back at school. In this way, the experience rippled outward, connecting classrooms and communities in a shared celebration of learning and joy.
The collaboration with Springside Trout Farm and owner Jeff Martin brought a warm, local touch to the event. A Lancaster County native, Jeff opened his property to our students and was on hand to assist throughout the day. “There’s something special about helping a kid catch their first fish,” he said. “That kind of joy is contagious and I’m just grateful to be a part of it.”
The long-term vision, according to Brett and the adaptive PE team, is to expand these kinds of outings so that every self-contained special education classroom in the district has the opportunity to participate. With the right support, they believe it’s entirely possible. “We’re lucky,” Brett said. “Not every district is doing this kind of work, especially at this level. But in Lancaster, we’ve built a strong team.”
For the School District of Lancaster, this outing reflects what’s possible when we invest in inclusive, student-centered experiences that meet learners where they are and imagine where they can go. It’s about showing our students and our community that inclusion isn’t just a buzzword. It’s action. It’s joy. It’s innovation. And sometimes, it’s a sunny day at a trout farm with a fishing pole in hand.
As we look ahead, our hope is to expand this opportunity so that every special education classroom in our district can participate in future fishing trips. Because every child deserves to experience what it feels like to reel in possibility.
