CARA Centre: Creating sporting opportunities for all… “Disability Inclusion Training” launched

Creating sporting opportunities for all…

 “Disability Inclusion Training” launched by Michael Ring TD 

Minster Michael Ring, TD, Minister of State for Transport, Tourism and Sport launched an innovative National Disability Inclusion Training course developed by the CARA Adapted Physical Activity Centre at the Institute of Technology, Tralee on the 27th September. The Course is designed to assist participants with the ideas and inspiration to adapt sports to make them more accessible for participants with a disability. It is both a theoretical and practical programme that covers terminology and barriers to participation; offers guidance; gives an introduction to disability sports and ways of adapting activities to make them inclusive.  The programme was developed in partnership with Cerebral Palsy Sports Ireland, Special Olympics Ireland, the Football Association of Ireland and Coaching Ireland.

At the launch, which takes place between two of the highlights of the Irish sporting calendar, Minster Ring was joined by the voice of Gaelic Games, Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, as well as a host of Irish athletes who took time out of their busy schedules to highlight that sport is for all regardless of ability.

Speaking at the launch, the Minister stated “As Minister of state for Tourism & Sport, I want everyone in Ireland to have a chance to get involved in sport, throughout their lives, and to get all the benefits and pleasure that sport brings. The CARA National Adapted Physical Activity Centre is leading the way by providing more opportunities for people with disabilities to take part in sport, physical activity and physical education.   CARA, along with Coaching Ireland, the Football Association of Ireland, Special Olympics Ireland and Cerebral Palsy Sport Ireland deserve great credit for all the wonderful work they have done in designing the Disability Inclusion Training workshop and I would like to thank them for all their efforts.”

The National Disability Inclusion Training programme is open to any person over the age of 16 who has an interest in increasing the participation levels of people with a disability in Sports, Exercise, Physical Activity or Physical Education.  Commenting at the launch Niamh Daffy, Manager of the CARA Centre said, “People with disabilities participate in sports and physical activity for all the same reasons as those who do not have a disability, however getting an opportunity and having an interest often depends on getting a positive early experience of sport and physical activity.

International research tells us that coaches and group leaders though interested and capable, in general, don’t feel very confident in including people with disabilities in their sessions. The main reason for this has been identified as not having practical experience or training in how to facilitate inclusive sports sessions. This course will help increase that experience”.

Stephen Gleeson, Managing Director of Hyundai Ireland who support the development of the course outlined what the partnership between CARA’s national disability inclusion training and Hyundai means to them, “Hyundai Ireland sees the value of staff training to ensure the inclusion of people with disabilities and all our dealers have now received basic disability awareness training from the CARA centre. Hyundai Ireland believes that sport is for all abilities and we are proud to support the Disability Inclusion Training (DIT) Course, the drive to increase provision is on!”