ADAPTED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ARA FOCUS€¦ · training, information and support from the CARA Adapted Physical Activity Centre which is an Irish Sports Council funded initiative based

ADAPTED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

ISSUE 5 | MAY 2010

ARA FOCUSNATIONAL NEWSLETTER

Special Olympics Ireland Games

Irish Powerchair Football

Gone Sailing

Adapted Physical Activity Centre

IN THIS ISSUE:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

A NOTE FROM ARAIt gives me great pleasure to write the welcome note

to what is now the fifth edition of the CARAFOCUS

National Adapted Physical Activity Newsletter. More-

over it is great to be able to highlight in this edition the

commitment the Irish Sports Council has to the devel-

opment of opportunities for people with disabilities to

participate in sport and physical activity within their

own locality, having recently approved 50% funding,

in excess of €400,000 to the continuation of the Sports

Inclusion Disability Officer Programme.

In addition, the Irish Sports Council and the Institute

of Technology Tralee continues to support the growing

developments of the CARA National Adapted Physical

Activity Centre which continues to lead, support

and facilitate the inclusion of people with disabili-

ties in sport, physical activity and physical education

throughout Ireland.

With the funding of the Sports Inclusion Disability

Officer (SIDO) Programme now embedded within, and

coordinated by the ISC, the CARA Centres role with the

SIDO Programme is one of facilitating, supporting and

providing information not solely to the Sports Inclusion

Disability Officer Network but in addition the overall

Network of Local Sports Partnerships.

The CARA Centre continues to lead and support devel-

opments in APA throughout Ireland and is currently

expanding its focus on training and education work-

shops in relation to the inclusion of people with

disabilities within sport, physical activity and physical

education. For information on these workshops please

contact us at CARA.

Within this edition there is an abundance of exciting

and successful initiatives and programmes that are

occurring throughout the country. I would like to

thank everyone who has contributed to this edition

and always welcome articles/advertisements to include

in further editions.

Lastly I would like to take this opportunity to wish

all participants and organisers every success at the

upcoming Special Olympics Ireland Games in June.

Have a wonderful summer

Niamh Daffy

AVAILABLE IN ALTERNATIVE FORMATS ON REQUEST

Welcome Note . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Irish Sports Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Local Sports Partnership Programme . . . . . . . . . 4

Professional Development in APA . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Camp Abilities Ireland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

The Sporting Chance Programme . . . . . . . . . . 12

National Sports Organisations . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

IT Tralee APA Programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

International Developments in APA . . . . . . . . 18

Participant’s Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

The Mountain Quest A fundraising challenge to help celebrate fifty years of

the Irish Wheelchair Association

Trek from Glenbeigh to Killarney over the weekend of 21st of August 2010, traveling through Ireland's most

impressive mountainous region.

Undertake this journey with a keen sense of adventure, a little bit of fitness and just your pack!

Full insurance cover, the use of specialist equipment and professional expedition training will be provided. You will be in the hands of fully qualified, experienced

and friendly guides.

For more information or to obtain a sponsorship pack call 087 1366373 or email [email protected]

CARA FOCUS • ISSUE 5 2010| 2

Sports Inclusion Disability Officer (SIDO) Programme 2010

The Irish Sports Council recently approved 50% funding, in excess of €400,000, towards the development of the Sport Inclusion Development Officer programme to 16 Local Sports Partnership (LSP) sites for 2010 to 2011.

Each successful LSP site demonstrated matched monetary funding, secured from a range of local sources, to meet the cost of employing the SIDO. The ISC has also made an additional fund available to non SIDO LSPs to develop sport for people with a disability. All LSPs will access training, information and support from the CARA Adapted Physical Activity Centre which is an Irish Sports Council funded initiative based at the Institute of Technology, Tralee

In order to help with the development of the SIDO programme the ISC have also secured nominations from a number of representative agencies involved both directly and indirectly in the development of sport for people with a disability. The Steering Committee’s remit is to oversee the implementa-tion of the SIDO programme throughout the Local Sports Partnership Network and to coordinate the communication and interaction between the broad range of agencies and organisations involved with disability sport in Ireland. The Steering Group are also charged with reviewing the work of this programme and assessing viable funding options for the continuation of the programme in 2011 onwards. They will also act as a support to the guide the of the work of the CARA Adapted Physical Activity Centre in respect of its facilitation and support of the SIDO Programme and its wider remit as a National Resource Centre .

IRISH SPORTS COUNCIL

Sports Inclusion Disability

Officer Locations:• Cavan and Monaghan Sports Partnership

• Clare Sports Partnership

• Cork

• Donegal Sports Partnership

• Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown

• Kilkenny Sports Partnership

• Laois Sports Partnership

• Limerick City and County Sports Partnership

• Mayo Sports Partnership

• Meath Sports Partnership

• North and South Tipperary Sports Partnership

• Offaly Sports Partnership

• Roscommon Sports Partnership

• Sligo Sports Partnership

• Waterford Sports Partnership

• Westmeath Sports Partnership

BackgroundIn 2006 the Dormant Accounts fund earmarked €2 million nationally for projects to address the imbalance in oppor-tunities for people with disabilities to participate in sport, physical activity and physical education. The Irish Sports Council in collaboration with the network of Local Sports Partnerships (LSP) and Pat Flanagan from the Institute of Technology Tralee identified the need to appoint dedicated personnel at county level to address this gap in provision.

The Irish Sports Council recognises the local sports partner-ships as an excellent mechanism for the delivery of sport and physical activity at local level. The partnerships main aim is to increase participation in sport and physical activity for all. Working within this structure, the Sports Inclusion Development (Disability) Officers role is focused solely on supporting and increasing opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in sport and physical activity.

The aim of the Sports Inclusion Disability Officer Programme is to increase opportunities for people with disabilities to participate both in mainstream activities and specific clubs and sports for people with disabilities. During the period of December 2007 and March 2008, 21 Sports Inclusion Disability Officers commenced a 2 year contract within 20 of the 32 partnerships. In 2010 there are now 16 SIDOs throughout Ireland continuing to develop sport and physical for people with a disability, funded by a range of local part-ners and the Irish Sports Council.

For further information on sports and physical activity opportunities for people with disabilities please contact your nearest Local Sports Partnership. www.irishsportscouncil.ie

3 |Adapted Physical Activity NATIONAL NEWSLETTER

Donegal

There has been great interest from primary schools in the Inclusive Games Training on offer from Donegal Sports Part-nership. The workshop offers a refresher of games from the Buntús programme and an introduction to a variety of inclu-sive games in addition to disability sports such as Boccia. The session is facilitated by the SIDO based with Donegal Sports Partnership who is accompanied by an experienced Buntús tutor.

The Inclusive Games Training is a practical two hour work-shop with a focus on including children of all abilities within the school setting. Feedback from the workshop to date has been very positive with teachers commenting on the fact the workshop is “very enjoyable, informative and simple but effective”. Thirty-six teachers have participated in the training this term with workshops planned to accommodate another twenty five within the coming weeks.

Donegal Sports Partnership will deliver a week long In-Service Training to teachers from the 5th-9th July with two potential venues subject to demand, one session of the In-Service will be dedicated to Inclusive Games Training. For further information on the Inclusive Games Training or Summer In-Service Programme contact Donegal Sports Part-nership on 074 (91) 16078.

MeathMeath Local Sports Partnership have developed a new “Games for Life” Initiative. Funding for this exciting new initiative was secured under the HSE Rapid Leverage Scheme. Games for Life aims to increase the activity levels of the disability and older adults groups in County Meath. Through the initiative the groups can avail of Bowls, Boccia and/or Kurling whereby the equipment will be provided to the groups at a substantially lower price, training will be provided to key staff who will fully implement the games for life into their group. The real reward from the initiative will be the roll out of the countywide “Games For Life” league, providing a great sporting and social outlet for all involved.

The new appointment of Aine Coogan as Sports Inclusion Disability Officer for Meath LSP means new and exciting times for the SIDO programme in County Meath. All upcoming SIDO events and programmes can be viewed on our website www.meathlocalsportspartnership.ie Aine and the staff of Meath Local Sports Partnership would like to thank James Barry immensely for his tireless work as SIDO for County Meath and we sincerely wish James all the best in his new role with Jigsaw Kerry.

For further information please contact Aine Coogan at (046)9067337

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown

Congratulations to Kingdom Rebels 1 on winning the inau-gural AIPF League, with a one-point advantage at the top, they had the winning of the league in their reach, and two victories was the requirement, which they managed against St. Joeys 1 (DLR) and Sporting Fingal. Midlands Utd also knew that they had to keep the pressure on by winning their two matches and hope that Kingdom Rebels 1 would slip up, but Midlands Utd’s luck ran out and they were just pipped at the post. All teams will no doubt be determined to up their game and put on a good show in the upcoming AIPF Cup and Shield in May.

The AIPF is the Association of Irish Powerchair Football which was established in 2008/2009, with representation from the FAI and each of the registered teams. Check out their website at www.aipf.ie

RoscommonNational Bike Week takes place this year from the 13th to the 20th June 2010. A number of fun activities have been organ-ised for people with disabilities to take part in, including a Fun Family Day, where the groups will be guided through the scenic views of Mote Park. Food and beverages will be available upon arrival of Mote Park at the Girl Guides and fun obstacles courses and activities will be offered to all the groups.

The main aims of the events are to promote cycling as an alternative form of transport for all, to promote cycling as a healthy and fun activity for families and to encourage people of all ages to become involved in cycling as a sport.

It promises to be fun and enjoyable day for all. If anyone is interested in attending please contact Annette on 090 66 30853.

LOCAL SPORTS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMME


North Tipperary

Sportsability clubs in Nenagh and Roscrea have recently completed their introduction to Taekwondo session under the guidance of Philomena Ryan. Overall 30 children between the ages of 6 and 18 years have been put through their paces over the last number of weeks. It is hoped to run a martial arts summer camp in the Nenagh Martial Arts and Fitness Centre over two weeks in July and to recom-mence regular classes again in September. A big thanks to Philomena for all her help and to all the participants – Well done guys!

Offaly

Offaly Sports Partnership has designed a walking challenge to encourage people with disabilities to get involved in physical activity. This challenge encourages people of all ages and abilities to walk more frequently and benefit from the many health and social factors associated with involve-ment in exercise.

Similar to the ‘Sli na Slainte’ scheme developed by the Irish Heart Foundation, this challenge involves each participant recording the number of laps (kilometres) completed, at the Harriers facility in Tullamore, over the summer period. Depending on the distance achieved, each participant will receive a gold (30k)/ silver (20k)/ bronze (10k) medal and all will receive a certificate of participation.

Waterford

Waterford Autism Social & Sports Action (WASSA) is a group of parents of children on the Autism Spectrum Disorder that aim to benefit the community through partnership, inte-gration and inclusion into mainstream social and sporting activities.

WASSA understands the difficulties that children with ASD face. Therefore, our objective is:

* To provide structured mainstream activities and

* Provide the necessary integration for our children.

By providing these activities WASSA’s aim is to Bridge the Gap from non-participation to participation and inclusion.

WASSA believe parents need to be empowered to ensure opportunities are there for kids to develop within main-stream sports. Having a child diagnosed with ASD can leave parents feeling isolated and unsure of their child’s future. WASSA has amassed a wealth of experience that can provide a forum where parents can talk, learn and support each other.

To date WASSA has integrated children into many activi-ties such as; swimming, horse riding, bowling, surfing etc., therefore continually providing opportunities for our chil-dren to develop.

WASSA can be contacted at: phone: 0866637055 / Email [email protected] / Website www.wassa.ie


Kilkenny

Kilkenny Kats Special Olympics Club recently held a successful fundraising launch in St Francis Abbey Cellar. The new club was formed in early February of this year by parents and volunteers in conjunction with Kilkenny Recre-

ation and Sports Partnership and Special Olympics Leinster. The club aims to cater for 6 - to 16-year-olds with an intel-lectual disability.

KKSOC held a fundraising launch on Wednesday April 7 which was hosted by Diageo and held in the Cellar of St Francis Abbey Brewery with Mayor Malcolm Noonan, John McGuinness TD, and Senator John Paul Phelan all in attend-ance.

KKSOC wants to give every child in Kilkenny city and county with an intellectual disability an opportunity to access a year round Special Olympics programme in their own community. KKSOC also seeks to provide opportuni-ties to people with intellectual disabilities to develop skills, reach their potential, make new friends, and be a real part of their community.

At the moment the club is concentrating on basic motor skills of the athletes, but it hopes to offer a wider variety of sports such as swimming, soccer, and badminton as the club develops.

The club also gives parents of children with special needs a chance to meet other parents in the same situation as them-selves and offer support to each other.

WestmeathOffaly and Westmeath Sports Partnership, in conjunction with the Offaly and Westmeath ‘Coaching and Games

Promotion Officers’ are currently recruiting members to join a WHEELCHAIR HURLING CLUB in Co. Offaly and Co. Westmeath.

Wheelchair Hurling is a relatively new and exciting compet-itive sport for manual wheelchair users. This is an action packed and skillful team sport targeting 8 to 18 year olds of all abilities. Offaly and Westmeath GAA Development Officers fully support the establishment of this exciting new club and are looking to recruit interested parties.

If you wish to get involved either as a participant or spec-tator, please contact the Sports Partnership:

Claire Grehan

Offaly Sports Partnership

Phone no: (057) 93 57463

Email: [email protected]

Mary Duignan

Westmeath Sports partnership

Phone no: (044) 93 38921


CorkSamba, Groove and Move is a new programme recently developed in Cork. The programme consists of 35 minutes of Samba followed by 35 minutes of Dance. This programme is designed specifically for children on the Autistic Spectrum and their siblings.

Through Samba, Groove and Move children aged 4 – 16 explore the music of Brazil using authentic instruments. At least one full Samba piece is learned by all who take part in the workshop. This music is accessible to all, no previous experience or knowledge of drumming required. Great fun for all ages.

The ‘Move’ part of the workshop includes a mixture of movement games, co-ordination activities and creative dance. Simple dance routines in a variety of styles are selected by the children and learned over the duration of the programme.

For more information or to book a place contact:

Sinead Costello 021 4665085 / 086 7947923 or email [email protected]

Sarah Butler, chairwoman; Mary Rhatigan, secretary; and some of the volunteers

of the Kilkenny Kats Special Olympics Club at the fundraising launch of the club

held in the Brewery Club on Wednesday night. Photo: Pat Moore.


Mayo

The first Outdoor Adventure Day for people with a disability organised by Sports Inclusion Development Officer Ray Mc Namara took place on the 21st April 2010 in Achill.

With the help of Kevin O Callaghan, Pauline Jordon and all the outdoor students of the Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT), Tim Daly and staff of Achill Outdoor Education centre the day was a huge success.

GMIT added a disability module to its course where students completed disability awareness training, and training on how to deal with people with a disability in an outdoor setting. They also had to help organise the Outdoor Adventure Day and helped people take part in the activities on offer.

The day started off wonderfully as the 61 participants descended on the Achill Outdoor Education Centre. The Achill sunshine brightened up the already excited faces of the participants. There they were greeted by staff of the centre and students of GMIT. Participants had a choice of activities to choose from surfing, sailing, open boating, kayaking and hill walking.

The groups with there leaders and helpers went in different directions to take part in activities of their choice. Partici-pants then came together for lunch and could choose from archery, climbing wall, environmental beach combing and hill walking for the afternoon. Participants with disabilities such as physical, learning and vision impairment all took part and had a great day.

Special thanks to PWDI for their support in funding the event. Tim Daly and staff of the Achill Outdoor Centre and to Kevin O Callaghan and all the Students of GMIT who helped out on the day.

Sligo

Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership organised an Easter Camp For All over two days on the 30th and 31st March 2010 at the Regional Sports Centre in Cleveragh. The camp was targeted at children with an intellectual disability aged between 5- 17 years and also included a number of children with Autism who also participate in the weekly Games For All programme run as part of the Sports Inclusion Disability Project in Sligo. A total of 14 participants of various ages and abilities participated in the two day camp which involved a combination of activities; including warm-up games, skills sessions, fun games and swimming. These activities were all designed to get the participants as active as possible in a safe, supportive and fun environment. The camp was delivered by

experienced and qualified staff who were supported by a number of Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership volunteers recruited through the Sports Inclusion Disability Project.

All of the activities delivered were designed to be inclusive of all ability levels and focused on developing the participant’s movement, balance, co-ordination and social skills. By focusing on the core fundamental skills through the various activities and games played the participants experienced the opportunity to enhance their overall sporting and physical development with an emphasis on enjoyment, learning and social interaction.

The children also had the chance to take part in swimming on both days of the camp and this was a hugely positive experience for them all, swimming has been shown to have many positive therapeutic and rewarding effects on indi-viduals as well as providing them with additional physical and social development opportunities. The ‘fun in the water’ sessions were delivered under the safe supervision of the coaches, volunteers and the qualified sports centre life-guards and staff who were excellent in helping to facilitate the swimming sessions.

The plan is now to extend the camp for a number of days in the summer with the intention of targeting additional chil-dren who might enjoy and benefit from these activity Camps For All. If anyone is interested in finding out about future initiatives aimed at increasing sporting and active recrea-tional opportunities for people with disabilities they can do so by contacting the Sports Inclusion Disability Officer, Shane Hayes at VEC Offices, Riverside , Sligo 071 9161511 or [email protected]


An innovative pilot project to teach Karate to people with vision impairment in Laois and surrounding counties was recently completed in Portlaoise. Organised by the Laois Sports Partnership and funded by The National Council for the Blind of Ireland, the eight week programme was found to have a very positive impact on the participating group.

Portlaoise Chitoryu Karate instructor, Tim Carew, gave the course with assistance from Joan Ryan and Colin Ryan. According to Carew, a key factor in the success of the programme was the creation of a safe and comfortable envi-ronment whereby the participants could exercise without fear of colliding with each other, something able sighted people take for granted.

There was great excitement during the last session when two Japanese Karate instructors paid a visit. Chitose Sensei is the Soke for the Chitoryu style of Karate. He said he had never observed a Karate class for visually impaired and he expressed great interest. Soke Sensei said that his father, a medical doctor by profession, had developed Chitoryu Karate with a view to teaching self-discipline and control and to help people develop a healthy mind and body. He was very pleased to see Irish people practicing a Japanese martial art.

One of the key successes of the program has been the fact that a number of the participants have now integrated into Mr Carew’s mainstream class which is an ongoing objec-tive for all our programs. For more information feel free to contact the Laois Sports Partnership on 057 86 71248.

Laois

for young people aged 4 – 14

0 Halliwick

Halliwick Swimming Association of Ireland and

Halliwick AST Halliwick Concept Foundation Course

Dates Friday 18th to Monday 21st June 2010.

Times 9 am to 5.30 pm.

Venue Maldron Hotel, Limerick Cost €300 Contact: Email: [email protected]

Or Tel: +-353-66-7144201

HALLIWICK

Halliwick

Swimming Association of Ireland

and Halliwick AST

Halliwick

Concept Foundation Course


Swimming pools in Ireland are a popular focus of recrea-tion. All levels and abilities participate and for many reasons. A significant percentage of those who enjoy the aquatic environment have a disability. They seek the same opportunities as their able bodied peers but are presented

with many challenges. One of the critical barriers is the paucity of staff who understand their needs. The ASA/Swim Ireland Certificates (Swimming for people with disabilities) go a long way towards addressing this deficiency. There are several graded courses available that prepare teachers to teach a wide range of disabled swimmers. The Club Helper Certificate is an 8 hour course which is designed for people who may wish to become involved in helping people during swimming lessons. It also is an introductory qualification for those who wish to undertake further training. The Assistant Teacher Certificate prepares one in the teaching of a limited range of basic skills to a group consisting of up to 3 partici-pants who are in the early stages of skill acquisition. The Teacher Certificate enables one to teach groups , to organise and supervise assistant teachers and helpers. The aim of ASA/Swim Ireland is to have teachers at every swimming pool accredited to teach people with disabilities. If you are interested in enhancing your skills and qualifications, while providing welcome support to disabled swimmers, enquire about your preferred course by contacting CARA Focus Newsletter. John Fox

Swimming for people with disabilites

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN APA

Research in Health & FitnessIn Ireland to date, there is a paucity of research on attitudes towards people with disabil-ities in the Republic of Ireland. Variables such as gender, age, degree of disability, perceived compe-tence in teaching individuals with disability, academic preparation etc. have been associ-ated with demo-graphic attributes that affect attitudes. (Downs & Williams,

1994). Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to assess fitness professional’s attitudes towards people with disabili-ties and to determine what variables (i.e. experience, course work in Adapted Physical Activity, gender, academic quali-fications etc.) relate to favorable attitudes. This project will assist in identifying the perceived competence of fitness professionals towards instructing people with disabilities.

A questionnaire with two sections was used for data collec-tion. Section one to five was designed by the researcher to

gain an insight into the academic preparation, disability training completed, experience and perceived competence levels of the respondents. Section six consisted of a modified version of Rizzo’s (1984) survey, ‘Physical Educators Atti-tudes toward Teaching Individuals with Disabilities’ (PEATID III). It was administered to Fitness Professionals who were selected through the National Council for Exercise and Fitness (N.C.E.F.) workshop & Leisure centers in Meath and Kerry. The sample included 51 fitness professionals (female n=33, male n=18) from public, private and hotel leisure centers.

41.2% have no experience instructing people with disabili-ties. 75% reported low-average competency levels when instructing people with disabilities in an integrated envi-ronment and 62.86% in a segregated environment. Fitness professionals predominantly have experience with physical and intellectual disabilities, highlighting that people with sensory impairments are not engaging in leisure centre activities.

The findings indicate that fitness professionals have positive attitudes but low perceived competence when instructing people with disabilities. The majority (83.4%) of the respondents felt inadequately trained and highlighted the need for further training in the area of disability. For further information on this research, email Linda at [email protected] / Pat Flanagan at: [email protected]


CAMP ABILITIES IRELAND - 2010A loss of Sight never

a loss of VisionCampAbilities was held in Killarney from the 5th-8th April. CAMPA-BILITIES camps run in 12 locations in the United States each summer and the camp in Killarney was the first one of its kind in Europe. It is a sports development camp for children who are blind or have a vision impairment and the original concept came about in a effort to combat the seden-tary lifestyles of children with vision impairment and to allow an opportunity for experiencing new sports and activities. The camp also provides valuable training for Institute of Technology Health and Leisure and national Learning Network Sporting Chance students on how to cater for the needs of someone with a vision impairment. CAMPABILITIES 2010 was organised by The CARA National Adapted Physical Activity Centre and the Institute of Technology Tralee, in associa-tion with the National Council for the Blind, the National Learning Network (Sporting Chance Programme) and the Kerry Local Sports Partnership. During the 4-day camp, the campers (who travelled from various parts of Munster) participated in a range of sport and recreational activities such as archery, adventure, dance, swimming, beep baseball, goalball, soccer, rowing, fishing and much more. Both camp staff and campers stayed at Arthur Vincent House in Killarney National Park and the Lakelands Cottages Killarney donated one of their cottages for use by the additional camp staff. The main base for all activities was St Brendans College with the use of Killarney Sport and Leisure Centre for the swimming and the soccer activities. A unique aspect of this camp is the level of community involvement in the running of the activities. Along with introducing the campers to various sports and recreational activities, CampAbili-ties Ireland aims to educate local clubs and groups on the inclusion of children with vision impairments within their clubs/groups. The following clubs/indi-viduals assisted with the facilitation of activities at the camp: Kingdom Green Sox Baseball Club, Kingdom Archers, IT Tralee Health and Leisure Lecturers, Nick Harrison of the FAI, Flesk Valley Rowing Club, Killarney Salmon and Trout Angling Club and Fossa Scouts group. Kerry Civil Defence assisted with all the first aid elements of the camp and four local jarvey’s provided the transport from Flesk rowing club to St Brendan’s on the last day. The closing ceremony beside St Mary’s cathedral involved an all-camp drumming circle facilitated by Urs Wenk, Drum Dance Ireland which was followed by medal presentation (sponsored by Murphy’s Sports Castleisland) for the beep baseball tournament. CampAbilities Ireland was captured by RTEs Nationwide and will be aired during the month of June. The CampAbilities Ireland organising committee would like to say a huge Thank You to all who have been involved in the camp developments and those who took part in the fundraising. Contributors included: Michael Scanlon Videographer, Renault Ireland, Killarney National Park; Lakelands Cottages Killarney, St Brendans College Killarney (especially James and Johnny), Killarney Sport and Leisure Centre; Kingdom Green Sox Baseball Club, Kingdom Archers, Sharon Phelan ITT, Nick Harrison FAI, Flesk Valley Rowing Club, Killarney Salmon and Trout Angling Club, Fossa Scouts group, Kerry Civil Defence, CH Chemist Tralee, Kerry Spring, Tesco Deerpark,Dr Gary Stack Killarney, Daly’s SuperValu, Killarney Jarveys, Seamus Kelly, Cian O’Driscoll Play at Height, Angela Keane, Drum Dance Ireland, Vincent Murphy Sports Castleisland, Kerry Stars Special Olympics Killarney rotary club, Garda Brendan O’Donovan, Adam’s Renault Tralee, Hackman Enterprise Solutions.

For more information contact Ursula Barrett email: [email protected] or Niamh Daffy CARA APA Centre email: [email protected]


A parent’s point of viewCampAbilities gave our son Patrick who is 8 years old, sporting expe-riences that I as a mother could not give. The knowledge of the sports and the encouragement passed on to Patrick by all those involved in the camp was invaluable. It has opened doors of opportunity in relation to sporting activities which with the positive support of mainstream clubs, can be continued and enjoyed throughout his life.

Being a resident at the camp encouraged Patrick’s independent skills and gave him a great sense of achievement as it was his first time away from Pat and I. CampAbilities have given us as a family, a further vision of the independent and achievable life which Patrick will have. CampAbilities gave Patrick the opportu-nity to spend time and make friends with other blind/visually impaired children in a fun and positive environment. The care, support and time Patrick received from all committee members and volunteers at the camp gave my husband and I great security and peace of mind. It was organised very well and communication prior to and during the camp was fantastic. I sincerely hope that this Camp was the first of many in Ireland and thank you so much. Claire Hennessy

CAMP ABILITIES IRELAND - 2010

Kerry Green Sox Baseball Club

The Tralee-based baseball club was founded in 2003 and has been one of the more successful youth baseball clubs in Ireland to date. The Little League Team has been national league champions for the past 4 years and many of its players have been selected for the national team. The Cadet team are also one of the strongest in the country and have also been part of the national cadet team. The older members of this team will form the first adult team from Kerry next season and will play in the national adult league. The reason for the strength of the Kerry baseball players is due to the expertise and dedication of the two main coaches: Andrei Sucaci and Stas Goreansky, the skills and ability of the players who train all year round and the ongoing support of their parents. When we were approached to take part in coaching Beep Baseball at the first Camp Abilities camp in Killarney this year we were intrigued and excited at the prospect of expanding the game of baseball to a new audience. Our own players and coaches had great fun learning this adapted game of baseball in preparation for the camp. Our strongest batters were suddenly stumbling fearfully towards the beeping base never having experienced running completely blindfolded before!! The blindfolded fielders were crawling about in the grass trying to hear the beep of the adapted baseball to get it before the other team reached the base and scored a point. It has certainly given the children and teenagers who play with our club a new experience of baseball and it has definitely been a positive one; as at each practice all we hear is “When are we going to get a chance to play Beep Baseball again?” Working during the week at the camp was a wonderful opportunity for our club coaches to gain new coaching experiences with the children, everybody gained from being part of Camp Abilities 2010. On the final day tournament of Beep Baseball we brought a number of our club players to play with the children on the camp and we mixed them all up and made 4 teams for the competition. All the children wore blindfolds and it was so uplifting to see a level playing field for all the players.We are going to give a demonstration of Beep Baseball to the other baseball clubs in Munster at a tournament we are attending in Cork on 5th June. They are excited at the possibilities this adapted game will bring to their clubs too. When can we play Beep Baseball again? Elaine Clancy, www .kerrybaseball .com


The Sporting Chance programme is delighted to announce that it is again recruiting trainees for their highly successful course at National Learning Network Tralee. The programme, which has run as a pilot project since 2007, is expected to be mainstreamed in the coming months where further funding will be secured. The Sporting Chance programme is a unique 18 months course that provides training and qualifications, in the sports and leisure industry, free of charge, to those who may not have been able to access further education for a variety of reasons, including injury, illness or disability.

To date, 32 learners have participated in the course. The uniqueness of the programme is proven in the fact that trainees have attended from as far away as Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Galway. Participants include people with phys-ical and sensory disabilities, people with mental health diffi-culties and people with intellectual disabilities and range in age from 17 to 58 years. All learners have achieved a vast array of qualifications and certification including:• 25 learners have qualified as ITEC gym instructors, a

qualification which is recognised by gyms throughout Ireland and the UK.

• Eight learners have received their ITEC Sports Massage Diploma.

• 6 learners have received an ITEC Diploma in Exercise and Fitness.

• 28 learners have completed and passed an Occupational First Aid qualification.

• All learners have achieved coaching qualifications from National Governing Bodies of Sport including a Kick Start Coaching qualification from the FAI and Athletics Leader qualification from the Athletic Association of Ireland. 8 learners have also progressed to completing a Gaelic Football Level 1 Coaching Course which includes practical coaching experience with a club.

• 9 learners have qualified as Assistant Swim Teachers course. 3 of these have completed additional training and are now fully qualified swimming teachers.

• 9 learners are fully qualified Pool Lifeguards having completed the National Pool Lifeguard qualification.

• 8 learners have qualified as Spinning class Instructors with 8 also qualifying as Pilates instructors.

• A wide range of FETAC certification has also been completed including Health Related Fitness Level 4, Communications Level 4, Outdoor Pursuits Level 3, Work Experience Level 4 and Information Technology Skills Level 4.

A SPORTING CHANCE AT THE NATIONAL LEARNING NETWORK, TRALEE


The programme provides individualised training focusing on the specific career and educational goals of each learner. Each person is involved in drafting their own Individual Action Plan in conjunction with their instructor. This helps ensure that they receive adequate support not just for their learning, but in areas such as housing, allowances and leisure activities. Specialised learning supports are provided where necessary. For example, three individuals with visual impairments achieved a large number of certifi-cation, including their ITEC Gym Instruction Diploma and ITEC Sports Massage Diploma, with the aid of specialised computer packages such as JAWS and Zoomtext.

The Sporting Chance programme has already been hugely successful in providing participants with an opportunity to pursue a career in the sports and leisure industry. Despite the hard economic times over half of the course partici-pants have progressed to a variety of positions within the sport and leisure sector including roles as Gym Instructors, Soccer coaches, Swimming Teachers, Go for Life Instructors and Leisure Attendants. This includes one graduate with a visual impairment who has obtained employment with a leisure centre as a sports masseuse and another who is now self employed, providing physical activity classes for active retired groups. In addition, seven learners have progressed to sport and leisure courses at third level education, including Health and Leisure at I.T. Tralee and Recreation and Leisure at Waterford I.T.

The programme also places a strong emphasis on developing the practical skills required to be an effective instructor. This is achieved through the creation of networks within local communities, clubs and sports organizations. In April, eight students acted as volunteers and instructors at the hugely successful CampAbilities for children with vision impair-ments in Killarney, providing the group with valuable expe-rience in how to adapt sports and activities. The Sporting Chance trainees are also involved in a hugely successful

coaching partnership with the HSE Occupation Therapy unit and the Kerry Local Sports Partnership in providing Gaelic Football coaching to children with dyspraxia and cerebral palsy. This coaching initiative provides children that may have fallen behind their peers at club or school the opportunity to get some extra skills training which will hopefully keep then in the game for life. The group have also organized physical activity sessions for members of the Deaf Hear organisation, the Tralee Older Peoples Forum and active retired groups in the area. These initiatives have proven to be hugely successful and enable the trainees to work with an enthusiastic group, while allowing the partici-pants an opportunity to participate in sports and activities which may not be readily available to them.

A range of work placement opportunities are also provided as part of the course. One of the most innovative placements to date was a learner who completed a 10 week summer placement as an Activities Camp Assistant with the Hope Alaska organisation where he was responsible for the organ-isation of sport and leisure activities for the participants. The learner, who is visually impaired, provided an excellent role model for the participants, many of whom also have a disability. This was the first time, a learner from National Learning Network travelled overseas to complete work experience.

In addition to employment, training and education, there is a significant social gain for all learners with the programme helping to develop communication and interpersonal skills, coaching and leadership skills and the ability to organise groups and activities. The level and range of qualifications achieved has ensured that the trainees will have equity with graduates from many other mainstream courses and meet the requirements for a range of positions in the sport, health and leisure field. The learners have achieved excep-tional outcomes and results and now have a pathway to employment and third level education which may not have been previously available to them. The Sporting Chance programme is a fantastic opportunity to enhance career prospects in an exciting and vibrant industry. Applications for this full time programme are being taken on an ongoing basis. No course fees apply and applicants must be must be over 16 years of age and in receipt of, or eligible for a disability or social welfare payment, as per FAS criteria.

To apply for the Sporting Chance course, or to obtain further information on the Sporting Chance course please contact Kevin Smith, National Learning Network Tralee at 066 7122533 or 086 04042370 or by email, [email protected]


NATIONAL SPORTS ORGANISATIONS

Special Olympics

Association of Irish Powerchair Football

The countdown is well on its way to one of the most prestigious sporting events to take place in Ireland this year. The 2010 Special Olympics Ireland Games will take place from 9-13th of

June in Limerick.

As well as being one of the most prestigious sporting events this year these Games also promise to be one of the biggest with 1,900 athletes competing in 13 different sports in venues through out Limerick. They will be supported by 650 coaches and official delegates, 4,000 family members and a team of over 3,000 volunteers.

These Games are the culmination of a huge amount of training and dedication on the part of all the athletes involved and promise to be one of the sporting highlights of the summer.

So come along and show your support for these true sporting heroes. All are welcome to attend to see the athletes in action. Further information will is available from www.specialolympics.ie

While our attentions will shortly turn to South Africa and the FIFA World Cup another brand of football continues to blossom throughout Ireland in the form of Powerchair Football. The Association of Irish Powerchair Football (AIPF) has just

completed its inaugural league championship. Beginning in August last year teams from Dublin, the Midlands and Kerry met regularly in competition in Limerick and Dublin. Powerchair Football is for people who use motorized power chairs, a special footguard is attached around the lower front of the power chair which is used to move the ball around.

The aim of the Association of Powerchair Football is to provide everyone who uses a powerchair in Ireland with an opportunity to play power chair football. During the close season a determined effort will be made to develop new teams around the country and bring more parents coaches and volunteers into the sport.

Powerchair Football is popular throughout the world with international competitions and it also has its own world governing body. There has been much talk that power chair football will become a Paralympic sport for the 2016 Para-lympic Games in Rio which provides even more incentive for powerchair users to become involved nationally and go on to represent their country on the world stage. More information on powerchair football can be got by visiting www.aipf.ie


Ireland’s first summer sailing programme organised specifically for children with disabilities went off with great success in Kinsale Yacht Club during the summer of

2009. It was organised by the Irish Disabled Sailing Associa-tion in association with the Kinsale Yacht Club.

The programme kicked off with a ‘Come and Try it’ day on 13th June, where children were invited to the yacht club for an introductory sailing session. Up to twenty children attended and most of them were finding their sea legs for the very first time. Tiring, terrifying yet thrilling was the feeling of many at the end of the day, volunteers and children alike. Many of the club members who came out to help had no experience of sailing for people with disabilities. Their willing enthusiasm made the day a great success.

The programme went on to offer weekly Saturday sailing sessions in Kinsale harbour. Up to twenty five children and teenagers received coaching from qualified instructors each week and volunteer helpers came out loyally throughout the summer. There were two safety ribs on the water at all times and the children also got to enjoy time in the ribs. Indeed, the programme relied heavily on a spirit of volun-teerism within the club. Strong links were forged during the summer between the various classes in the club as its willing members got involved with the access dinghy sailors.

Twelve children and teenagers took part in what was the Republic of Ireland’s first full, five day, Access Summer Sailing Camp. The camp experience, solidified friend-ships among both the young people and their parents who remained nearby and were on hand at lunch time. The weather was kind and everybody had pink noses and happy smiles at the end of the week.

The official launch of the programme took place on 29th August. The day was action packed and family friendly, with sailing or cruising for all. Over 120 people in total were on the water in Access dinghies, Squibs, Sonars and a variety of Cruisers. There was a fun race for the children with twenty

boats competing. The event had the assistance of the Kinsale Lifeboat and there was a Naval presence in the form of the L.E. Roisín in the harbour on the day. The race was started by Mr Alan Crosbie, the patron of the Irish Disabled Sailing Association.

Mr James Gradwell, president of the Paralympic Council of Ireland travelled to attend the event and was there to oversee the hoisting of the class burgee in the clubhouse. This was followed by a barbeque and social afternoon.

IDSA Chairwoman, Alison Ryan said ‘It’s thanks to the posi-tive attitude, excellent facilities and practical support of the yacht club that things are going so well for the children.’

The fruits of the programme paid dividends, even in it’s first season, as two of the trainees were accepted as voyage crew on board the tall ship ‘Lord Nelson’ on the ‘Pirates of the European Adventure’. The route took them form Germany to Scotland and back to the Netherlands over a period of fifteen days. Both young people enjoyed the experience and will bring their new found expertise back to the programme and their peers in 2010.

Irish Disabled Sailing Association


Irish Handcycling moves up a notch with a Gold Medal win in the first European Handcycling Circuit Race of 2010.

Irish Paracyclists got the year off to great start with a Gold Medal in the European Handcycling Circuit Road Race in Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in March.

A four strong Irish Handcycling Team over came the 38 degree temperatures and jet lag to secure Ireland’s first ever handcycling medal when H1 rider Mark Rohan from Athlone, won the bunch sprint to take Gold in the Road Race in Al Ain in the UAE. In the morning time trial Mark was just outside the medals when he finished in fourth place. As this was also a P1 UCI Race Mark secured a combined 3rd place in General Classification to secure valuable UCI World Ranking Points.

In the H2 category Irish Squad new-comers David Kerr and Darrel Irwin put in good performances to secure 23rd and 27th respectively in the Time Trial and 22nd and 23rd respectively in the Road Race.

Karl Doherty was just outside the top 10 when he finished 13th in the H3 Time Trial and 12th in the Road Race. He was looking good earlier in the road race when he broke away to chase two riders that were ahead but the bunch chased him down and he was unable to respond to the next attack. Still it was good to see such a gutsy performance in what is only his 3rd international race.

The four lads also took part in the optional 14km Hill Climb Competition which they all successfully completed in the scorching temperatures that topped the 40 degree mark at times. A little different than the temperatures they left behind in Ireland.

The event was the first on the European Handcycling Circuit for 2010 and was promoted by the Al Ain Club for the Disabled and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council.

Also on the Paracycling Programme for 2010 will be Road World Cups in France, Spain and Canada, Road World Championships in Canada and Track World Championships at a venue yet to be announced. Points accumulated during 2010 could help Ireland secure one male and one female slot for London on 31st December provided we finish in the Top 40 nations for men and Top 25 nations for females said Paracycling Manager Denis Toomey, the handcyclist’s performances in Al Ain augers well but all the squad will need to produce the goods during the year to guarantee these slots so hopefully we will secure sufficient funding to complete our planned programme.

He thanked his support staff of coach Beverly Chamberlain and mechanic Gerry Beggs for their great work in helping Mark win his Gold Medal.

Paralympic Council of Ireland


My name is Antoinette O’ Sullivan. I go to the Institute of Technology College Tralee. The name of the programme I work on is Skill for Life. There are 9 people in my class. We are aged between 18-21. Our disabilities are Apert Syndrome, Autism, Down Syndrome, Prader-Willi Syndrome.

My disability is called Apert Syndrome. Apert Syndrome is a genetic defect and falls under the broad classification of craniofacial/limb anomalies. It occurs in approximately 1 per 160,000 to 200,000 live births. Apert syndrome is primarily characterized by specific malformations of the skull, midface, hands, and feet. The skull is prematurely fused and unable to grow normally; the midface (that area of the face from the middle of the eye socket to the upper jaw) appears retruded or sunken; and the fingers and toes are fused together.

This year my class took part in the Adapted Physical Activity (A.P.A) with the 2nd year Heath & Leisure students every Monday morning. We work with the students in the gym. We all worked together as a team and we enjoyed the experience very much. It was great fun and the support and friendship by all the students was nice and it was lovely to see us having fun and making new friends with the students. We looked forward to going to the gym every week. I would love to do it again next year. We will miss all the students who have worked with us for the last 8 weeks.

By Antoinette o Sullivan

A participants perspective

IT TRALEE APA PROGRAMME

The impact of APA at IT Tralee

The Institute of Technology Tralee has a mission statement. It reads ‘to excel in teaching, research and development work, for the benefit of students, industry and the wider community’. This is a philosophy we hold to be very important. Being a part of the wider community is critical for the services and activities of the Institute to maintain relevance to our stakeholders. The Adapted Physical

Activity modules and associated lecturers and the CARA centre are good examples of this philosophy in action. Students and participants from various groups will know that the only way to gain confidence in any skill is to live through it. By engaging with children and adults with a disability, our students gain valuable experience in adapting activities and facilities for safe, enjoyable and beneficial use. Our APA students have gained skills that I hope will see them contribute to disability services through prac-tice, policy making and even provision of funding; and I must thank the all of the voluntary groups and disability support agencies for their involvement in this process. The academic staff members who deliver APA modules have built up a collective expertise for training in this hitherto niche area of theory and practice. This is another critical aspect of Institutional development. Our courses need to be relevant and of value at local, regional and national level. While we currently face limitations to resources, in the future I hope to see provision of short courses in adapted skills, optimisation of our own undergraduate APA modules, and development of postgraduate opportunities for APA professionals. With this in mind, I welcome suggestions or comments on the educational and training needs of APA professionals and volunteers, which can be communicated through the CARA office


On May 6-8th, 2010 we had an exceptional opportunity to meet with colleagues working in the area of Adapted Phys-ical Activities across whole of Europe in a lovely Finish city Jyväskylä during the 10th European Congress of Adapted Physical Activity organised under the umbrella of European Federation of APA. The Congress concentrated on Adapted Physical Activity Over a Life-Span and brings together researchers and specialists from all over the Europe. Pres-entations and discussions of the most recent research in the

field made the Congress a great opportunity to compare notes with other professionals, stimulate growth in the sector and helps to spread “good practice in APA”. The main themes were: (a) Adapted physical education , (b) Physical activity and aging, (c) Disability sport: from sport for all to elite sport, (d) Integration and inclusion, and finally (e) From recreation to elite sport. We had the opportunity to listen to excellent and inspirational keynote speakers: prof. Pilvikki Heikinaro-Johansson, University of Jyväskylä (Adapted physical education); prof. Harri Suominen, University of Jyväskylä (Physical activity and aging); prof. Greg Reid, McGill University, Montreal (Integration and inclusion); Ms. Anne-Mette Bredahl, The Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (From recreation to elitesport) and a very special guest president of IPC Sir Philip Craven who presented a keynote focused on Disability sport: from sport for all to elite sport. During congress there was also a meeting of the project EUROPEAN STANDARDS IN ADAPTED PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES with preliminary outcomes of the project being presented during a special minisymposium. We also had an opportunity and honor to be invited to the 11th European Congress EUCAPA 2012, which will take place in Killarney, Ireland in May 6-8th, 2012.

See you all there. Martin Kudlácek (President of EUFAPA)

IT partnership with community groups

We are very grateful to Pat Flanagan & Ursula Barrett of Tralee Institute of Technology for giving twelve people from St. Mary of the Angels (Kerry Services of St. John of God’s) the opportunity of becoming involved with 3rd year students in the APA course.

The excitement and sense of adventure and happy sounds were to be heard each Wednesday morning over the past few months in St. Mary of the Angels as the lads boarded the buses heading for Tralee Institute of Technology.

The enthusiasm & involvement of the I.T. Students is commendable. Prior to the commencement of this eight week course each student was assigned a participant from St. Mary of the Angels, this involved the sharing of relevant

information on intellectual disability and behaviours, being mindful of the importance of confidentiality. The students prepared an individual sports programme each week to meet the individual needs of each person.

Each session commenced & closed with parachute games. This gave a sense of familiarity and continuity for the weeks ahead. The sessions included many activities i.e. boccia, bean bag work, stepping/jumping activities, racket ball, sensory experiences and sampling the gym equipment. At the end of the eight weeks the majority of our participants on the programme had progressed to using gym equipment.

The one to one attention, support & dedication from the students has enhanced the lives of the twelve people from St. Mary of the Angels. The families and staff noticed the independence, the improved fitness and sense of fun that this programme brought to the participants.

The positive results of this programme on campus are far reaching and many of the people at St. Mary of the Angels are now going to the gym more regularly we all look forward to the planned boccia league.

The programme closed with the presentation of medals & certificates.

We at St. Mary of the Angels look forward to further oppor-tunities of working with Pat, Ursula and Tralee Institute of Technology’s students.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS IN APA


– How did you get involved in hand cycling?

My first involvement in hand cycling came through a

friend who told me that Denis Toomey, the manager of

Paralympic cycling, had been promoting the sport and

was looking for people to give it a go. At the time I was

committed to playing wheel basketball so I purchased a

hand cycle and I used it as a method of cross training and

staying fit when the basketball season had finished.

– How has hand cycling changed your life?

Throughout my life I have always been heavily involved

in sport of some kind or other, predominately team sports

(GAA Soccer or Basketball), and so I was used to the

commitment of training and the benefits of a healthy life-

style. Cycling is a sport that people with a disability can

easily integrate into which I really like, so it has allowed me

to go and cycle with friends I haven’t trained with in years

and it also allowed me to see parts of the country side that

I wouldn’t have seen in years.

– How long have you been involved in the sport?I first got a bike in 2008 and initially just cycled with

friends and did a small bit of training but it wasn’t until

the IWA, UCI and Irish paracycling held an open day that

I was introduced to the competitive side of the sport. The

World championships in Italy were the first competitive

race that I participated in, where I finished in last place, so

I’m involved nearly a year now.

– What’s your club?I have just moved back to Athlone and joined the local

cycling club the Shannon side CC so I look forward to

getting involved with them.

– What impact has the sport had on you?The first day I went out on my hand cycle I knew I would

love the sport. It gives you a great since of freedom knowing

that you can get up on your bike and head out for 50, 60

or 100 km ride and for those couple of hours spent riding

you forget about everything else. It is also a great way to

keep fit and meet new people, cycling is definitely a team

sport and within the Irish set up there is a great group, who

worked hard but love the crack.

– What is the best race you ever competed in?As hand cycling is pretty new I’ve only had a couple of

competitive races, winning a Gold medal in the Dubai

last Mach was fantastic, not just for me but it was great to

give something back to the team that got me there without

whom it wouldn’t be possible so a big thanks to them.

– Who is your toughest opponent?To date I have had a couple of battles with a Belgium racer,

Christophe Henrique, we put in similar times during Time

Trials and road races but as both of us are getting faster

I have noticed the top guys taking notice so I am really

looking forward to future battles with the top guys. I really

enjoy getting stuck into a tough battle and this is what

drives me during training, the thrill of competing at the

highest level and pushing yourself to the limit.

– What other activities do you like?There’s nothing I like more that having a couple of pints

with friend but the chances of this are limited of late, it’s all

ballygowan at the moment. I like any activity that involves

being outdoors or involves sport, so it varies from watching

Gaelic football, being a Westmeath man that hasn’t being

easy lately, to playing tennis or basketball. I just starting

getting lessons on the bodhrán which I am hopeless at but

really enjoy.

PARTICIPANT’S PROFILEMark RohanMember of Shannonside CC Club

Mark after receiving his gold medal with Team Manager Denis Toomey


CARA Adapted Physical Activity CentreInstitute of Technology

South CampusTralee, Co. Kerry

Tel: +353 66 714 5646Fax: +353 66 714 5651


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ADAPTED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ARA FOCUS€¦ · training, information and support from the CARA Adapted Physical Activity Centre which is an Irish Sports Council funded initiative based