YES! I can play sports

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YES! I can play sports

• Sport for Children Youth with Disabilities
• Lanarkshire ICG Health and Wellbeing Conference
• August 2011
• John R. Cooper
• Sports Consultant Kitchener Waterloo

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Presentation Outline

• Definitions
• Demographics
• Barriers
• Benefits
• Examples
• Contact information

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Location Maps
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Disability Defined

• Ontario Human Rights Code definition
• Brain injury, chronic illness, developmental,
  learning disabilities, mental health, physical,
  sensory
• Visible or invisible
• From birth or acquired

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Types of Physical Disability

• Hearing seeing mobility agility chronic
  physical conditions, including asthma and
  allergies, heart condition or disease, kidney
  disease, cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, cerebral
  palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy,
  migraines, arthritis or rheumatism, paralysis of
  any sort, missing limbs or digits, complex
  medical care, other not specified.
• 2006 Participation and Activity L i m i t a t i o
  n S u r v e y
• Statistics Canada Catalogue no.
  11-008 Canadian Social Trends

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Categories of Physical Disability for Children 5
14 yrs

• Canada
• Mobility M 10.1 F 18.8
• Agility M - 22.9 F 18.5
• Seeing M 9.1 F 10.2
• Statistics Canada Participation And Activity
  Limitation Survey 2007 Tables

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Demographics - Canada

• Canadian population 34.4 million (2011)
• median age 39.5 yrs women 40.5,
• men 38.6
• Life expectancy 81 years girl - 83 years boy -
  78 years (2006)
• overweight/obesity rate of adolescents aged 12 to
  17 increased 14 to 29, obesity rate alone
  tripled 3 to 9 over past 25 years
• Statistics Canada Participation And Activity
  Limitation Survey 2007 Tables

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Children with a disability by age
2006  Both Sexes Both Sexes Males Males Females Females
  number number number
Total - all ages 4,417,870 14.3 2,024,700 13.4 2,393,180 15.2
Total - less than 15 years 202,350 3.7 129,210 4.6 73,140 2.7
0 to 4 years 27,540 1.7 17,770 2.1 9,770 1.2
5 to 14 years 174,810 4.6 111,440 5.7 63,370 3.4
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Participation Rates in Sport

• Barely 3 out of every 10 Canadians aged 15 and
  over participated regularly in one or more sports
  in 2005
• decline from the early 1990s of 50
• 7.3 million 28 of adults, in some form of
  sport
• Teenagers 15 to 18 highest rate declined from
  77 in 1992 to 59 in 2005.
• only 30 minutes a day on active sport
• 55 of boys (decline from 59 in 1992), 44 of
  girls
• 44 of Canadian boys and girls aged 5 to 14
  prefer soccer ice hockey, swimming and baseball
• 43 of children from households with incomes
  lt40,000 65 from households earning gt 80,000
• "Sport participation in Canada, 2005," Statistics
  Canada

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Participation Rates in Sport Physically disabled
children

• Only 3 of Canadians with a disability
  participate in sport
• Less than two-thirds (63) of 5 - to 14 yrs
  participate at least once a week
• family income over 90,000 - 74
• under 30,000 54
• urban areas significantly higher rate
• in organized sports than those living in
• rural areas
• Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 11-008 Canadian
  Social Trends

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Barriers to Participation

• Sport environment sport not adapted to
• accommodate child
• Special equipment or someone elses help required
  
• to participate in an activity
• limitations caused by childs condition muscle
• atrophy susceptible to illness
• High cost compared to income
• Inadequate transportation/ personal mobility
  issues
• Parents overly protective fear of injury
• social stigma
• Medical profession attitude condition
  limits,
• not potential of the individual
• Volunteers, parents athletes comments

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Benefits to Participation

• better academic results
• reduced emotional and behavioural problems
• Social participation or social engagement
• engaged with their society, essential aspect of
  social and personal development
• Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 11-008
  Canadian Social Trends

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Assistances to Participation

• Income level
• Parental encouragement
• Parental support at school
• two-parent family driving child to events,
  providing needed assistance
• proximity to services availability in urban
  centres of programs and facilities vs rural
  communities
• Physiotherapist encouragement
• Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 11-008 Canadian
  Social Trends

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Reasons Why Disabled Children Participate in Sport

• Make new friends meet friends
• Increase social engagement - children
• with disabilities are less involved than
• non-disabled in social activities
• Have fun
• Achieve a goal e.g. Olympics
• Perspective
• Dignity
• Promote self and disabled sport
• Parents advocate encourage
• Athletes, coaches and parents comments

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Volunteers

• Parents
• Students
• Friends
• Neighbours
• Service clubs
• Community
• Satisfaction of giving back, gratification
  success of performing

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Funding Sources General

• Donations - private, corporate, service clubs,
  foundations
• Events activities
• Registration fees
• Government grants
• Sport Governing Organizations
• Lottery Funds
• Trusts

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Specific Funding Sources

• Ronald Macdonald Childrens Charities
• Community Foundation
• Private Foundations
• Provincial Lottery corporation
• True Sport
• Sport for Disabled Trust Fund 1998 - 2011
• Canadian Paralympic Committee
• Para-Equipment Fund
• Ontario Athlete Assistance Program (OAAP) from
  Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion Sport

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Sport Programme Examples

• FasTrack KW Track and Field Association
• Cross-country skiing - Waterloo Region Nordic
  Sports Club
• Boccia program City of Kitchener
• Golf lessons Kitchener-Waterloo Golf Committee
• Sailing Conestoga Sailing Club
• Alpine Skiing - Track 3 Ski School (Chicopee Ski
  Club)
• Basketball Spinners Wheelchair Basketball
• Sledge Hockey KW Sledge hockey Club
• Swimming - Region of Waterloo Swim Club
• Equestrian Pride Stables (CORDP)
• Judo Asahi Judo Club

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Track and Field FasTrackKW Track Field
Association

• Centennial Stadium City of Kitchener
• No indoor training facility for winter
• Ages 8 yrs and up
• Fee 100 per season
• 2 plus times per week evening, Saturday
• Racing wheelchairs throws chairs supplied or
  athlete specialized chair
• Certified volunteer coaches
• Competition - local to Paralympics
• Not for profit, Board of Directors

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FasTrack KW Track and Field

• City Athletic staff encourage and support club
  Executive and coaches
• Organized Whynot Marathon 1996 to raise funds and
  awareness
• Ronald Macdonald Childrens Charities donation
• Purchase racing wheelchairs
• Provide training for volunteers

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Jonathan Furey Meghan OBrien Canadian
National Track Field Championships
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Nordic Ski -Waterloo Region Nordic Sports Club

• Bechtel park City of Waterloo
• trails prepared and maintained by
• volunteers
• January through February
• Ages 4 yrs
• Fee 45 to 120, plus entry fees
• 2 or more times per week
• Sit-ski and other equipment supplied
• Competition - local to Paralympics
• Not for profit, Board of Directors

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Nordic Ski for Physically Challenged

• City grants for Cross country ski equipment
• Provide letters of support for grant applications
• Subsidize training for volunteer instructor
• Promote programme through KidsAbility Centre,
  City venues

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Nordic Ski for Visually Impaired

• City of Kitchener Athletic staff encourage and
  support club Executive and coaches
• Promote programme through CNIB and local School
  Boards
• Inform other sport clubs as example to implement
  programs

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Christy Campbell - Paralympian

• Participates in track, rowing, cross country ski,
  sledge hockey.
• 2nd at Cross Country Ski Nationals 2011 Para
  Nordic Sit Ski 5km
• Canada Winter Games 2011
• 1st (2.5 k), 2nd (5k),4th (8oom)
• member of Canada's Womens Sledge Hockey Team
• Paralympic Games 2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens Track,
  2008 Beijing Rowing
• Five words that describe me Terminator (sledge
  Hockey) Energizer Bunny (track), timbit
  (powerlifting) and speed demon
• Photo ParaSport Ontario Magazine

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Golf Lessons K-W Golf Committee

• Doon Valley Golf Course (City of Kitchener)
• 3 mini-lessons one hour, June
• Ages 12 yrs
• Fee30 - subsidy available
• Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
• Committee volunteers, City CSD
• KidsAbility centre staff
• Sport cart booked for personal play

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Golf Lessons

• City of Kitchener staff obtained grants for
  specialized Sport golf cart KW Community
  Foundation, private donors
• Recruit train volunteer
• instructors
• Green fees no charge
• Promote to community and agencies through
  brochures mailing lists
• Started 1997, continuing 2011

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Boccia City of Kitchener

• Objective of Boccia place your coloured ball
  closer than your opponents ball to the white
  target (jack) ball. Throw, kick or use a chute to
  propel the balls onto the court
• Once per week September June
• fall, winter, spring sessions. 630 830
  pm
• Local school gymnasium no cost
• 8 yrs
• Fee 55 per session
• Equipment supplied
• Volunteer instructors/City Inclusion staff
  administer
• Competition regional to national

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Boccia

• City staff applied for grant - Ronald Macdonald
  Childrens Charity
• Purchase Boccia equipment specialized ramps
• Recruit train volunteer instructors
• Obtain facility time at local school
• Promote to community and agencies through
  brochures mailing lists
• Take athletes to competitions

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Sailing - Conestoga Sailing Club

• Conestoga Lake (Conservation reservoir) 30
  minutes drive from Kitchener Waterloo urban area
• Sailing school weekdays - July August
• ages 9 18 paid instructors
• Member occasional sailing, daily May through
• October
• Challenger Trimaran Access 2.3 dinghy
• Assistive device to enter boat
• Accessible washrooms in clubhouse
• Accessible ramps
• Not for profit, Board of Directors
• 50 years as club 2011

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Sailing

• City of Kitchener Athletic Inclusion staff
  Promote Able Sail to Conestoga Sailing Club
  Executive
• Assist with grant search for specialized boat,
  site and clubhouse renovations
• Provide letters of support for grant applications
• Provide technical expertise re Building Code
• Promote to persons with disabilities local
  agencies

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Able Sail
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Alpine Skiing - Waterloo Region Track 3 Ski
School

• Chicopee Ski Club (community not-for-profit club)
• Donates hill time, administration staff,
  equipment storage and change area
• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 630-830 pm
• eight weeks January February
• 30 participants per night - limited by hill time
• Sit ski, blind and 2/4
• Ages 3 years and up
• Fee 150.00 (actual cost 700 per student)
• Fee 150.00 (actual cost 700 per student)
• Waive fee for financial disadvantaged

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Track 3 Ski

• City minor sport grants, business sponsors,
  private donations, service clubs, fundraising
  events
• Ontario Trillium Foundation, Ronald Macdonald CC,
  Petro Canada
• Various specialized equipment provided sit-ski,
  outriggers etc
• Fitting night for equipment related to specific
  disability
• Kids who are fearful start on magic carpet,
  walk around the hill, close eyes on chair lift
  if afraid of heights walk around in ski boots
  for 2 classes before starting to ski Sign cards
  for non-verbal kids
• Create a band of trust with instructor
• 180 - 200 volunteer instructors and assistants
  three levels
• dry-land on-hill training
• Athletes who excel are encouraged to compete
• Registered Charity, Board of Directors

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Track 3 Skiers
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Track 3 Skiers
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Basketball Spinners Junior Wheelchair Team

• Local school gymnasium
• Players with advanced skills not intimidated by
  ball
• 6 to 8 players - males females play together
• September through June - 2 times per week 2
  hours
• Fee 50/year plus fundraising
• Chair personalized, 5,000 no from
  government agencies
• Contact sport - can cause injury
• Rent van to carry chairs to competitions
• Fundraising sales events, donations
• Competition at provincial level advance to
  senior team
• Only 5 clubs in Ontario
• Registered Charity, board of directors, volunteer
  coaches

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SWAD Special Wheelchair Activity Days

• Local school gymnasium
• Introduction to sport, basic easy rules
  basketball, tennis, curling, bowling, karate,
  sledge hockey, t-ball, dodge ball
• Ages 5 to 18 yrs
• 2 times per month difficult to attract
  participants lt other activities
• Volunteer coaches

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Spinners Junior Wheelchair Basketball
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SLEDGE HOCKEY KW Sidewinders

• Developed in Scandinavia in Canada for 20 years
• Adapted version of ice hockey
• Players sit on a light-weight sledge, skate
  blades attached to bottom. Two short hockey
  sticks one end has a blade for handling and
  shooting the puck. Metal picks attached to other
  end enable players to push themselves across the
  ice.
• Regular ice hockey gear and rules
• Local city arenas September to March, 1 hour,
  twice per week
• Ages 5 and up junior and adult teams
• Fees Juniors - 270 Adults 370 per year
• Local games to Paralympics
• Ronald Macdonald Childrens Charities National
  Hockey League Players Association grants. Weekly
  Bingo 95 of budget
• Initiated by City of Kitchener Inclusion staff
  1990
• Not for profit organization, Board of Directors,
  Volunteer coaches

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Sledge hockey
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Swimming Region of Waterloo Swim Club

• Wilfrid Laurier University pool
• Practices 2 to 5 days per week/according to level
• Ages 5 yrs through seniors
• Fee 500 - 5,225 fundraising according to
  program level/ practices per week
• Assessment of ability in September before
  training begins annually
• Train with club athletes group coach -
• no specialized program for athletes with
  disability
• Competition regional to international
• Not for profit, Board of Directors, paid coaches

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Jessica Tuomela - Paralympian

• Retinal cancer causing permanent blindness age 5
• Paralympics Games 2000, 2004, 2008 silver medal
  50m freestyle, Sydney
• Requires a tapper - the person who warns swimmers
  who are totally blind that they are approaching
  the wall by tapping them lightly on the head with
  a stick. The tapper must accompany the swimmer at
  competitions, training camps and practices and
  work around the athlete's schedule.

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Equestrian - Pride Stables

• Therapeutic horseback riding -Central Ontario
  Developmental Riding Program (C.O.D.R.P.)
• Orthopaedic, Neurological Conditions, Muscular
  Dystrophy Autism, Blindness, Hearing and speech
  impairments, Mental disability and Down Syndrome,
  Dwarfism
• 24 horses, indoor riding arena, boarding stable,
  20 acres
• 340 riders assisted by more than 250 volunteers
• Fall, Winter, Spring Tuesday and Thursday 6-7
  730-830 pm
• Summer camp 8 one week sessions 250/week ages
  6 -12 yrs
• One Riding Coach for each 6 campers trained
  volunteers for beginner level riders, progressive
  tailored to the individual
• Provincial Dressage Championships and Prince
  Phillip Games
• Registered Charitable organization, Board of
  Directors

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Pride Stables - Instruction
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Pride Stables - Competition
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Judo Asahi Judo Club

• Largest dojo in Canada 3 tatami mat practice
  areas, weight
• training room, change rooms, office
• Accessible facility owned by City of Kitchener
  (Twin Cities Gymnastics Judo Training Centre)
  operated by clubs
• Ages 4 and up
• Fee 135 1 hour/ 12 week session to 285
  /competition level
• Fee assistance available
• Instructional sessions year-round 1 to 4 nights
  per week,
• Saturday 1 to 2 hours
• Athlete decides how many hours of training and
  any competition
• Promote potential of each individual expect each
  person to train
• hard to progress
• Instructional programmes to international
  competition
• Not for profit sport organization, Board of
  directors, volunteer
• coaches

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JUDO warm up exercises
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JUDO throws practice
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Challenges to Participate in Sport

• Overcoming negative attitudes and barriers -
  public perception of people
• with disabilities
• Parents concerns about childs physical ability
  to do skills, energy, fear of
• injury, embarrassment
• Risk management injury risk, equipment,
  certified instructors, vulnerable
• population
• Understanding concerns about lack of volunteers,
  money and facility time
• Finding sources of funds for facilities, special
  equipment, travel to competition
• Successful fundraising, sustainability of funding
• Obtaining facility time - Facility operators
  scheduling
• Recruiting instructors/coaches volunteer
  agencies, media, businesses, service clubs,
  community Volunteer succession
• Recruiting participants school boards,
  KidsAbility, community agencies

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Requirements to Achieve Results

• Vision what you want to achieve
• Open mind what children youth can do
• Understanding personal needs of the individual
  participant
• Dedication determination
• Creativity (Resourceful)
• Diplomacy
• Support of decision makers policies,
  administrative support, time commitment, funding
  facilities

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Sport Contact Information

• Asahi Judo Club www.asahijudoclub.aibn.com
• Conestoga Sailing Club www.kwsailing.org
• Waterloo Region track 3 Ski School www.waterlootra
  ck3.com
• Spinners Junior Wheelchair Basketball ahagey187_at_ro
  gers.com
• Pride Stables www.pridestables.com
• Boccia / Golf www.kitchener.ca
• Region of Waterloo Swim Club www.rowswimming.ca
• KW Track Field Association www.kwtfa.ca
• KW Sidewinders Sledge hockey Club www.kwsidewinder
  s.com
• Waterloo Region Nordic Ski Club www.wrnsc.org

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Contact Information

• John Cooper
• Sports Consultant
• johnco_at_golden.net
• 01 519 886-6918
• Waterloo, Canada