Regional Public Organization for Persons with Disabilities “Perspective”
Together in Sports: Involving Children and Teenagers with Disabilities of Kaluga Oblast in Sports
CSS contribution, rubles
Total budget, rubles
Implementation period, months
Project idea
The Perspektiva Foundation is focused on promoting inclusive adaptive sport for children with disabilities in the Kaluga Region through systematic engagement of schoolchildren.
Teenagers often have a prejudice towards children with mental disabilities. Such a reaction stems from a lack of understanding about individuals with special health needs. Spending time together can help neurotypical children better comprehend the health conditions of their peers. The project team will establish optimal conditions for these crucial interactions.
Children, both with and without special health needs, will regularly engage in joint sports activities. The activities will be thoughtfully adapted to suit children with disabilities. At least 40% of the project participants will be children with special health needs, while the remaining participants will be neurotypical children. This approach will facilitate mutual understanding among all participants, enhance inclusivity, and foster increased societal awareness.
The project will involve 8 schools, of which 3-4 will be specialized for children with special health needs, with the remaining 4-5 being mainstream or inclusive schools. Physical education teachers in these schools will teach lessons on para-sports (boccia, sitting volleyball, pioneerball, adaptive table tennis, wheelchair rugby, para-powerlifting, wheelchair basketball, goalball).
Additionally, the project will host inter-school competitions and a tournament across various parasport disciplines.
At least 15 physical education teachers will participate in training on the application of adaptive physical education during whole-school PE classes, to be conducted over 10 online training sessions.
Parents will also be involved. A minimum of 30 parents of children with disabilities will take part in group consultations, where they will learn how to involve their children in sports and physical activities.
Relevance
According to the “Federal Register of Persons with Disabilities”, as of March 1, 2022, there are 2,640 children and adolescents with disabilities of school age living in Kaluga Region. There is a prevailing belief that challenged individuals are too frail for sports. And are usually either exempt or do therapeutic exercises.
Adaptive sports are an excellent solution for these objectives. Mentors will establish a similar level of exertion for both children with and without disabilities, which will influence how children with disabilities perceive themselves. Children with special needs will gain confidence and feel more at ease amongst their healthy peers.
The project will unveil the capabilities of children with disabilities and demonstrate to them that they are not much different from other children. That children with disabilities can also progress in physical training and achieve developmental milestones.
Sports activities presented in a playful format will also promote integration amongst children and foster friendships.
Social effect
Promotion of inclusive adaptive social sports among schoolchildren with disabilities and their peers without disabilities in the Kaluga Region.
KPI
KPI
Project Results
- popularizing a healthy lifestyle among children of diverse groups, both with and without health conditions;
- increased diversity of sports available for children with special health needs;
- introduction to new types of parasports;
- fostering an accepting and tolerant attitude towards children with disabilities;
- establishing new friendships between healthy children and children with disabilities;
- educating coaches to work with children with disabilities, introducing them to new adaptive activities;
- parents of children with disabilities have developed a positive attitude towards their children’s physical activity. They have begun seeking sports sections for children with disabilities.
Project progress after CSS funding
To ensure the continuation of this project, new equipment has already been acquired and training for physical education teachers has been conducted. Consequently, the project will certainly continue without further financial support.
Employees of the “Leader” Physical Education and Sports Centre in Kaluga participated in the project’s training events.
Previously, Leader held classes only for adults with disabilities. With the help of the project, activities will now also be conducted for children, and a boccia section for children with disabilities, starting from 10 years old, has been opened. In addition, a master class was held for Leader employees by athletes and a coach of the Russian national boccia team.
