This spotlight is of Nancy Altshuler, a Clinical Coordinator of Physical Therapy at P.G. Chambers School. Nancy is applying for The 2024 Kerry Magro Special Education Teacher, Therapist, and Aide Grant via the nonprofit KFM Making a Difference started by me, Kerry Magro. I was nonverbal till 2.5 and diagnosed with autism at 4, and you can read more about my organization here.
Nancy Altshuler has spent the last 35 years shaping the lives of students through the power of movement. As the Clinical Coordinator of Physical Therapy at P.G. Chambers School, Nancy works with students ranging in age from preschool to 21, providing specialized therapy services to help those with a variety of physical challenges—including Autism, ADHD, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Genetic Syndromes, and Muscular Dystrophy. In her eyes, the body is not just a vessel to move through the world—it’s a fundamental tool for learning.
Her philosophy, “Teaching the Way Our Students Learn,” focuses on using movement as a core component of education. “I believe that movement isn’t just a break from learning—movement is learning,” Nancy says. “Incorporating movement into the classroom helps students engage in the learning process in ways that are both fun and effective.” This approach comes from years of research and experience, which has shown that students learn better when they’re moving, not just sitting still.
Nancy’s work goes beyond traditional physical therapy. She works closely with teachers, occupational therapists, and speech therapists to create an integrated learning experience that fosters both physical and cognitive development. “The goal is always independence,” Nancy explains. “Whether it’s a preschool student crawling on the carpet or a teenager using a powered wheelchair, we are working to give them as much independence as possible, using movement as a means to achieve that.”
One of the most impactful tools Nancy uses to integrate movement into learning is the innovative Blaze Pods system, which she hopes to purchase with the help of the Kerry Magro Special Education Teacher, Therapist, and Aide Grant, offered by KFM Making a Difference. Blaze Pods are small, light-up devices that can be programmed to flash at different rates and colors. These pods can be tapped with hands or feet, making them ideal for students with a wide range of physical abilities. They can be attached to surfaces like mirrors or dry-erase boards and even used outdoors, which is perfect for physical activities that engage the whole body.
“I’m excited about Blaze Pods because they offer an opportunity for students to engage in physical activities that are not only fun but also build essential skills,” Nancy says. “These pods can be used in a variety of settings, from therapy gyms to classrooms, and are perfect for students who are learning to access switches for communication or powered mobility. They’re great for promoting inclusion and giving students the chance to practice skills like speed, coordination, and spatial awareness.”
Nancy’s work at P.G. Chambers School also includes coordinating therapy services for public schools within Morris County. One notable success came from her collaboration with a general education teacher and a special education teacher in a local elementary school. Together, they created a “Math in Motion” program that blended math lessons with physical activities. Students with IEPs—who typically would have received individual therapy sessions—were instead incorporated into the classroom activities, working in small groups with their peers. Nancy would review the teachers’ lesson plans and come up with creative ways to integrate movement into math concepts.
“Every week, I would leave equipment like bowling pins, beach balls, poly spots, bean bags, and hula hoops in the classroom,” Nancy recalls. “The students loved it so much that they would ask to take the activities outside to recess. Soon, the whole grade was participating.”
The results were impressive. Concepts that had been difficult for the students to grasp in previous years, such as counting, sequencing, and basic addition and subtraction, became much easier when paired with movement. Nancy’s therapy sessions also benefited as students were able to practice and reinforce these math skills while developing strength, coordination, and balance. The interdisciplinary collaboration between the physical, occupational, and speech therapists allowed for even more holistic development, ensuring that fine motor, language, and emotional skills were also being addressed in tandem.
“The integration of movement into the curriculum allowed for more repetitions of the concepts, which helped students achieve their goals faster,” Nancy explains. “By working together as a team, we not only helped the students on my caseload, but we also helped the whole class. The relationships that were built through these shared movement activities were truly special. It wasn’t just about learning math—it was about building connections and fostering a sense of inclusion.”
As Nancy continues to advocate for her students and their needs, she remains committed to the idea that movement is a vital part of learning. With the support of the Kerry Magro Special Education Teacher, Therapist, and Aide Grant, Nancy hopes to bring even more resources into her classrooms—resources that will help her students become not only more independent but more engaged in their learning journeys.
For Nancy Altshuler, movement is not just a way to teach physical skills; it’s a way to teach students how to engage with the world around them, solve problems, and connect with others in meaningful ways. Her dedication to her students’ success is a shining example of the power of movement and inclusion in special education.
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My name is Kerry Magro, a professional speaker and best-selling author who is also on the autism spectrum. I started the nonprofit KFM Making a Difference in 2011 to help students with autism receive scholarship aid to pursue post-secondary education. Help support me so I can continue to help students with autism go to college by making a tax-deductible donation to our nonprofit here.
