Lets see our clubs be inclusive. Se are looking for a club to be a hub for a region to help us get groups together. Can your club and facility help? Contact us please as many of these children and young adults are mad about our games.

1. Ulster GAA
GAA For All
Disability Inclusion
Programme
Developed in partnership with DSNI

2. “The aim of the Ulster Council Disability
Inclusion programme is to work in
partnership with other agencies and
organisations to enhance the physical
health and social wellbeing of people with
a disability, whilst simultaneously
promoting social inclusion through
participation.”
“All people with disabilities should have equal
opportunity to partake in Gaelic Games to
their full potential”

3. 1. Develop and implement a Disability Coach
Education and Training framework of Ulster GAA.
2. Train staff/volunteers/teachers in the delivery of
inclusive coaching sessions.
3. Establish a player pathway for athletes with a
disability, with specific focus on:
• Learning Disability Football
• Wheelchair Hurling
4. Encourage and support the inclusion of people
with disabilities in all Ulster GAA Clubs.
Ulster GAA Disability Inclusion Plan

4. Ulster GAA and Disability Sports NI
Action Plan 2013-2016
Coach
Education &
Training
Disability
Inclusion
Programme
Wheelchair
Hurling Course
DSNI “Including
young people
with ASD”
Player
Pathway
Wheelchair
Hurling
Learning
Disability
Football
Club
Development
Communication
Training
opportunities &
support
Pilot LD
programmes in
6 clubs
Partnership
Working
Disability
Sports NI
Sport Inclusion
Development
Officers

5. Session Outcomes
1. Recognise the influence of perception and
experiences.
2. Identify potential challenges to participation
and identify possible solutions.
3. Identify techniques for good inclusive practice.
4. Reflect on the use of language and etiquette.
5. Identify sources of additional information and
guidance relating to disability sport.
6. Provide suitable activities for all disability
groups.

6. The Facts
21% of people in N. I. have a disability or long-
term condition limiting their day-to-day activities..
..It’s higher here than
England & Scotland.
(NI Census 2011, Continuous Household Survey 2012/2013, Census 2011 Ireland)
Prevalence of disability increases with age.
Only 15% of people with disabilities in N.I take the
recommended level of exercise compared to 38% of
non- disabled people.
13% of people in Ireland
have a disability or long-
term condition

7. Perceptions and Experiences
TASK
In groups:
Discuss the question in your group and write
down all key points on flipchart paper.

11. • Only 9% of people with a disability are
members of a sports club or
organisation.
(Continuous Household Survey 2012/2013)
Challenges to Participation

12. Challenges to Participation
TASK
What do you think are the main challenges
for people with disabilities becoming
involved in sport and the GAA in
particular?
Discuss in pairs/groups of 3.

13. Challenges for Participants
• Getting to facilities – transport
• Poor access at the facilities
• Lack of organised sports programmes/opportunities
• Lack of informal early experiences
• Lack of role models
• Lack of access to coaching & training
• Low income
• Under-estimating the ability of people with disabilities
• Over-protection

14. Spectator Friendly Facilities
Inclusive Sports Facility Accreditation (DSNI)
• Currently applied to sports facilities, including sports
club houses for GAA grounds, fitness suites and leisure
centres.
• Beragh Red Knights (Tyrone) has been audited under
the ISF scheme.
Inclusive Sports Stadia Accreditation (DSNI)
Casement Park has been audited at plan stage against
the recommended standards set out in “Design &
Management Guidelines – Access to Sports Stadia
for People with Disabilities”, and will be further
audited once constructed.

15. Etiquette and Language
TASK
• What do we say?
• What language should we use?
In groups, decide if the words are:
– Acceptable
– Unacceptable
– Unsure

16. Etiquette and Language
Acceptable Unacceptable Unsure
Wheelchair User Wheelchair bound
Amputee Cripple
Handicapped
Partially sighted Visually Impaired
Blind
Deaf Hard of Hearing
Learning Disability Slow
Spastic
Special
Dumb
Athlete with a disability Invalid Disabled Athlete
Restricted Growth Dwarf
Normal
Able-bodied
Suffering from…
The Disabled

17. Disability Groups
and Inclusion Guidelines
Learning Disabilities
ADHD, Autism, Aspergers, Down’s Syndrome
• Keep activities short and varied
• Provide practical demonstrations as well as verbal
• Restrict the amount of information given
• Break tasks down

18. Disability Groups
and Inclusion Guidelines
Sensory
Blind and Partially Sighted
Very few people are completely blind, most have some
level of vision.
• Use bright coloured equipment (Yellow)
• Use jingle balls, covered balloon with rice
• Buddy system
• Limit background noise

19. Disability Groups
and Inclusion Guidelines
Sensory
Deaf and Hard of Hearing
May communicate in a variety of ways:
Sign language, lip reading, verbally, hand signals
• Flags/bibs to attract attention
• Face the group
• Provide visual demonstration
• Establish basic hand signals

20. Disability Groups
and Inclusion Guidelines
Physical
Amputee, wheelchair user, ambulant disabled, CP, MS
• Reduce the size of the running/pushing area
• Raise equipment off the ground
• Allow extra room for turning

21. Minimal Severe
• No two players will be the same, even if they have
the same disability
• Treat people as individuals
• Don’t be afraid to ASK the individual what they are
able to do.
• Focus on what the participant CAN DO rather than
what they can’t.
Impairment Considerations

22. STEPS Model
S
T
E
P
S

23. Types of Inclusion

24. Equipment
•Bright
•Colours
•Range
of Sizes
•Choice

25. Preparation
Knowledge of disability
• Focus on information needed to fully plan
inclusion
• Registration forms:
– To help fully plan the full participation of people with
disabilities in our programmes and activities, please
provide a brief description of the effects of your
disability or medical condition and of any particular
needs you might have.

26. Take your first small steps…
 Coach Education Programme
 Encourage fellow coaches to attend workshop
 Assess/adapt Club Facilities &
Equipment
 Small changes can make big impacts!
 Wheelchair Hurling & LD Football
Squads
 Encourage player pathways

27. Regional Development Officer:
Paul Callaghan
E.paul.callaghan.ulster@gaa.ie
T. 00353868066166
Disability Sport NI can provide information on
activities and sporting pathways for people with
disabilities.
Performance Officers: Elaine Reid
Odhrán Doherty
Telephone: 02890 387062
Email: email@dsni.co.uk
Website: www.dsni.co.uk
Who can help?

28. Practical
Adapted activities and games