David Porretta

David Porretta is an internationally known scholar of adapted physical activity and has been a professor in adapted physical activity at both the undergraduate and graduate levels for more than 30 years.

Dr. Porretta has numerous major publications and has regularly presented scholarly papers at international, national and state meetings. From 2002-2007 he served as editor of Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly (APAQ), the official journal of the International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (IFAPA).  He also served on IFAPA’s Advisory Board (2001-2007). Dr. Porretta is an elected Fellow in the National Academy of Kinesiology (NAK) and has acquired $4 million in external funding.

Dr. Porretta was the 1999 recipient of the Hollis Fait Scholarly Contribution award and the 2003 G. Lawrence Rarick Research Award, both presented by the National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities (NCPEID). He served as NCPEID President from 1996-1998. In 2004, he received the Adapted Physical Activity Council’s (AAHPERD) Professional Recognition Award. 

• PhD, Physical Education, Temple University, 1982
• MS, Physical Education, Ithaca College, 1972
• BS, Physical Education, Niagara University, 1971

Porretta's current research projects include: physical activity interventions for children and youth with visual impairments and quality of life indictors for individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.

• Dr. Porretta is an elected Fellow in the National Academy of Kinesiology (NAK) as well as an elected Fellow in IFAPA
• Recipient of the Hollis Fait Scholarly Contribution Award, 1999 and the G. Lawrence Rarick Research Award, 2003
• Presented by the National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities (NCPEID).
• Leadership Recognition Award from the Adapted Physical Activity Council (APAC) of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) - 2004

1. Haegele, J., & Porretta, D. L. (in press). Validation of a an audio pedometer for adolescents with visual impairments in free living conditions. The Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness.
2. Haegele, J., & Porretta, D. L. (in press). Physical activity and visual impairment: A Literature Review. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 32..
3. Cervantes, C., & Porretta, D. L. (2013). The impact of an after school program on leisure time physical activity of adolescents with visual impairments. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 30, 147-163.
4. Samalot-Rivera, A., & Porretta, D.L. (2012). The influence of social skills instruction for improving sport and game related behaviors of students with emotional or behavioral disorders. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 17, 1-16.
5. Cervantes, C., & Porretta, D. L. (2010). Physical activity measurement among individuals with disabilities: A literature review. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 27, 173-190.

1. Lee, J. & Porretta, D. (2014). Physical Activity on Stereotypic Behaviors and Task Engagement in Autism. American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance National Convention, St. Louis, MO, April, refereed.
2. Derringer, S., & Porretta, D. (2014). Task-Oriented Behaviors of Children with Autism During Gross Motor Activities. American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance National Convention, St. Louis, MO, April, refereed.
3. Porretta, D., L. (2013) Physical Activity, Disability, and Quality of Life: A Multidisciplinary Perspective, Invited Keynote: International Sports Scientific Conference, Seoul National University, South Korea, November, 2013.
4. Gies, M., & Porretta, D. (2013). Video Prompting and Its Application to Physical Activity Settings for Individuals with Disabilities. Annual Meeting of National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities, Reston, VA, July, refereed.
5. Lee, J., & Porretta, D. (2012).  Stereotypic Behaviors: Reducing Automatically Reinforced Behavior in Physical Activity Settings. North American Symposium on Adapted Physical Activity, Birmingham, AL, October, refereed.