Deborah Shapiro
Professor - Program Coordinator for Health and Physical Education Kinesiology and Health- Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Indiana University, 1999
Master of Science, Adapted Physical Education and Motor Development, Michigan State University, 1995
Bachelor of Arts, Honors, in Physical Education and Psychology, York University, 1993
- Specializations
Disability Sport
Sport psychology
Adapted Physical Education
Physical activity promotion
Motor development and skill learning
Children and youth with physical, visual impairments, intellectual and developmental disabilities
- Biography
Deborah Shapiro has worked with individuals with physical disabilities, Autism spectrum disorder, visual impairments and individuals with intellectual disabilities in recreation programs, summer camps, adapted sport settings, and has taught adapted physical education to students with disabilities ages preschool through adulthood in public and center schools.
Her primary research focus has been in the area of psychosocial factors of sport participation among youth athletes with disabilities, and the physical activity benefits from sport participation among youth athletes with a physical disability. Dr. Shapiro has also written on issues related to inclusive practices in professional preparation of teachers and sport management professionals. She has published in leading peer review journals in adapted physical education, recreation, and sport management.
Dr. Shapiro has received several awards for her scholarship and leadership in the field of adapted physical activity including: the Hollis Fait Scholarly Contribution award, the William A. Hillman Distinguished Service award, and the ASPIRE award for advocacy.
Dr. Shapiro is the program coordinator for the undergraduate Health and Physical Education Program and the PhD concentration in physical education teacher education. She teaches undergraduate courses in adapted physical education, disability sport, and motor development and graduate classes in adapted physical education, and action research.
Dr. Shapiro serves on the board of directors for the American Association of Adapted Sports Programs, is a founding board member and board chair of the Georgia Blind Sports Association and member of several national and international groups focused on the advancement of sport, physical activity and physical education for persons with disabilities. Dr. Shapiro served as chair of the Adapted Physical Education Special Interest Group through SHAPE America and as associate editor and current editorial board for the Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly.
- Publications
Yao, A., & Shapiro, D. R., (2025). Sport commitment in Taiwanese para-athletes. European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity.
De Luna-Vazquez, W., Shapiro, D.R., & Moreno, A. (2024). Coaching Behaviors in Goalball: Perceptions of Athletes with Visual Impairments. International Sport Coaching Journal. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2024-0028.
Wilson, K.E, & Shapiro, D.R. (2024). Program reach and motivational correlates of exercise behavior among program participants with visual impairment. Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine.
Sur, MH., Shapiro, D.R., & Martin, J.J. (2024). Impact of sport engagement and social support on health-related quality of life of youth athletes with physical disabilities. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.2023-0058
Sur, MH, Shapiro, D.R. & Li, H. (2024). Measurement of Basic Psychological Needs for Physical Activity Participation for College Students with Intellectual Disabilities: A Validation Study. Journal of Applied Research on Intellectual Disability, 37”e13246. https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.13246
Yao, A., Shapiro, D.R. (2024). An examination of the sport commitment model for athletes with physical disabilities. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 131(3), 971-988. https://doi.org/10.1177/00315125241244471
Keen, M.A, Sanches, O., Pigg, M., Shapiro. D.R., & Dillon, S. (2024). Understanding and applying federal education laws to advocate for physical education for students with disabilities. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, 95(3), 28-35.
Maeng, HJ., Shapiro, D.R., Webster, E. K., & Kwon, HJ. (2023). Impact of an Online Rater Training on Scoring Accuracy of Two Skills on the Test of Gross Motor Development-3 Among Children with Developmental Disabilities: A Pilot Study. Journal of Motor Learning and Development. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1123/jmld.2023-0010.
Pate, J. R., Hardin, R., Shapiro, D., & McKay, C. (2023). Inclusion, infusion, or confusion: Exploring how faculty address adaptive sport in the sport management classroom. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhlste.2023.100458
Hu, T., Cottingham, M., Shapiro, D. R., & Lee, D. (2023). Promote the ‘wow”: (mis)representation, perception and reception of media promotion on wheelchair rugby. International Journal of Sport Marketing and Sponsorship, 24(3), 470-484. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSMS-03-2022-0060
DeLuna, W., Sur, MH., & Shapiro, D.R. (2023). Using Paralympic School Day and Sport Education to Increase Awareness and Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in PE. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. 94(5), 5-15.
Pitts, B., Shapiro, D.R., Piletic, C.K., & Zdroik, J. (2022). Examination for disability content across sport management textbooks. Sport Management Education Journal, 16(1), 42-54. https://doi.org/10.1123/smej.2020-0087.
Sur, MH., & Shapiro, D.R. (2022). A Comparative Review of the Theory of Planned Behavior for Adults with Physical Disabilities. European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity. 15(1). Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2021.101199.
Sur, M., & Jung, J., Shapiro, D. R. (2022). Theory of planned behavior to promote physical activity of adults with physical disabilities: Meta-analytic structural equation modeling. Disability and Health Journal, 15(1). Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2021.101199