Since 2008, the presenter has worked as a project coordinator with the Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability (ALACD), a national organization, which promotes increased health and active living opportunities for the 1 in 7 Canadians who have a disability. Physical activity environments are often not developed with people who have a disability in mind. Through the lens of his own experience, the presenter will suggest that meaningful participation in physical activity is a powerful catalyst for individuals of all abilities. He will elaborate on ALACD projects and resources designed to inform physical activity providers about simple adaptations which facilitate inclusive participation. While awareness programs tend to focus on physical activity practitioners, the presenter will suggest that capturing the imagination of those with a disability is critical if we are to create a culture of greater inclusion.

1. Peterborough Council for
Persons with Disabilities
Active Together
Conference

2. Welcome
If you are a person with a disability or if
you deliver recreation-based physical
activity programs, Moving to Inclusion will:
• Provide you with knowledge to facilitate
inclusive opportunities for those with
different abilities;
• Offer practical approaches on how to
apply inclusion in an after-school setting;
• Equip you with tools, strategies, and
creative adaptation ideas to use when
program planning.

3. Session Overview
What is inclusive active living?
About ALACD
About Moving to Inclusion
Inclusion is not difficult
Why is physical activity more important for persons
with disabilities?
Some statistics
The reality
Learning about disability – ALACD Tipsheets
Adaptations: equipment, rules, playing space
Teaching tips
Where to get more information

4. What is Inclusive Active Living?
Inclusive active living involves:
- Meaningful participation;
- Participants are fully accepted;
- Assistance is offered as needed;
- Participants encouraged to choose
activities and take risks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JprJhG5nc8

5. - Promotes, supports and enables
Canadians with disabilities to lead active,
healthy lives;
- Focal point among 175 agencies
committed to inclusion and active living;
- Grassroots delivery mechanism of p/t
representatives across Canada;
- Shares information, resources and
contacts to promote inclusive active living.
About ALACD

6. - Launched in 1994 to promote inclusion of
students with disabilities into PE classes;
- Today MTI Online helps leaders include
those with disabilities in various programs;
- Modules highlight concepts and approaches
to lead inclusive physical activities;
- Course participants pay a registration fee
and receive a certificate upon completion;
- Visit www.ala.ca/mti-iem to learn more.

7. Relax!
Inclusion is not difficult
Where to start?
- Learn about the person, disability, barriers and
support required;
- Think safety first!
- Use verbal, gesture and writing as modes to
communicate as applicable;
- Develop realistic yet challenging objectives;
- Offer individualized support as needed;
- Ensure participants have acquired one skill
before moving on;
- Evaluate participant involvement, modify as
needed;
- Reinforce participant strengths;
- Use observation, questioning, repetition,
encouragement, patience and flexibility.

8. Why is physical activity more
important for children with
disabilities?
- Increases health – the 1/7 Canadians with
disabilities are statistically less likely to be active;
- Reduces risk of acquiring secondary conditions,
may assist in managing condition or curtail
deterioration;
- Lowers health care
costs
- Promotes social
inclusion

9. Some Statistics
- 4.6% of Canadian children and youth aged
5 to 19 have a disability (HRSDC);
- 5% of Canadian children and youth with a
disabilty do not go to school;
- 15% go to schools designed only for
children and youth with disabilities;
- High School dropout rate is 14.2% vs 9.7%
for those without disabilities;

10. Some Statistics
- Children with disabilities are nearly twice
as likely to be overweight or obese;
- Youth with disabilities are more likely to
abuse alcohol, drugs and tobacco;
- 28.1% of children and youth with a
disability have seen a psychologist or
psychotherapist (HRSDC);
- One in two children with a disability report
having no friends (Globe and Mail, January
2012)

11. The Reality
- Canada’s physical activity guidelines prescribe
minimum 60 minutes daily activity;
- Disability population less active overall than
mainstream;
- 37% of youth with disabilities never take part in
organized physical activity, vs 10%;
- 24% of youth with disabilities never take part in
unstructured activities, vs 2%;
- Less physical activity detracts from healthy
development;
- Participation drops after age 25 – vital that young
people sustain healthy habits.
Source: Standing Senate Committee on Human
Rights, 2012)

12. Learning about Disability
ALACD Tip Sheets
- Sensory Disabilities
- Mobility Disabilities
- Cognitive Disabilities
- Mental Health Disabilities
- Other Disabilities

13. Adaptations
Equipment
- Use balls of varying size or weight. A bell inside will
accommodate participants who are blind;
- Use sticks of varying lengths, adjust the height of nets,
use elastics or a lanyard to link participants requiring
additional support.
Rules
- A participant who uses crutches designated to take the
throw-ins during soccer games;
- Participants who are blind partnered with a guide
during running activities.
Playing Space
- Participant in a wheelchair covers a specified area for
basketball;
- Participants with a cognitive impairment who are
goaltending may play in a smaller net.

14. Teaching Tips
- Learn about the participant
- Ask questions;
- Focus on what participants
can do!
- Adjust equipment or rules to
promote success;
- For complex activities,
provide one-on-one support
where possible;
- Encourage realistic goal
achievement at each step

15. To learn more about our work, call or
write to us.
Active Living Alliance for Canadians
with a Disability
104-720 Belfast Road
Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 0Z5
Tel.: 1-800-771-0663
Email: ala@ala.ca
Web: www.ala.ca
Where to get more information