CARA Adapted Physical Activity Centre

EUCAPA newsletter

CARA — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:04:47 +0000

Please find attached the first update newsletter for EUCAPA 2012. We hope you enjoy this edition. If you would like further information about EUCAPA please contact Linda Raymond at the CARA APA Centre on 0667145647

New Edition of CARAFOCUS – National Adaped Physical Activity Newsletter

CARA — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:07:39 +0000

We are delighted to share with you the latest edition of CARAFOCUS National Adapted Physical Activity Newsletter. In this edition you will find updates from the CARA APA Centre, the Sports Inclusion Disability Programme, details of EUCAPA 2012 and much more interesting stories on developments throughout the country. If you would like to receive a hard copy of this edition, please contact CARA. Additionally, if you would like to include an article on your developments, training or research or an advertisement in the next edition please contact us. We hope you enjoy this edition. A big thank you to Tanja Fischer our German Internship Student for editing this latest edition of CARAFOCUS to such high quality standards.

For the new edition of the CARA Focus click the following link:

cara-newsletter-8W

Trip to Arsenal a Huge Success for Youths with Vision Impairments

CARA — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:57:20 +0000

With the support of Irish Blind Sports, on Sunday January 29th a group of young footballers who are visually impaired travelled to London to play a challenge game against youth players from Arsenal Football Club in the community. This grade of soccer is known as B2\B3 FUTSAL. The trip was a bridge building project with ourselves and clubs from outside Ireland. There was many purposes to this trip but one important aim was to show the players we had identified and coached last summer, and reward them with something a little special. We now hope that the experience will allow a strong follow on to regional or national gatherings of groups of soccer players to perform at a decent level and in time represent their country at major tournaments. Two players who travelled with the team, were identified directly from CampAbilities Ireland, and the remainder was identified through Local Sports Partnerships and NCBI communication.
There is training sessions planned for February, March, and April, across the provinces with the idea of offering opportunities to every young soccer player interested in recreational and higher level participation.
The age group we are looking for is 9\10 to 17\18 boys, however any player younger/older or females are welcome to contact me and we will endeavour to facilitate session as long as participant numbers are good.

A big thanks to Irish Blind Sports, all participants and parents who travelled.
We will always be searching for new participants.

For enquiries please call…
WARREN @ 085-8279920 or via email: wmcdb1b2b3@yahoo.co.uk

National Survey of Public Attitudes to Disability in Ireland

CARA — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:55:01 +0000

As part of NDA’s strategic commitment to raising awareness and promoting positive attitudes to disability, NDA commissioned a National Survey of Public Attitudes to Disability in Ireland. The survey builds on previous surveys conducted by NDA in 2001 and 2006, and covers a range of topics including knowledge of disability and attitudes to disability within the workplace, schools and in the neighbourhood. These important findings were launched by Kathleen Lynch, T.D. Minister of State with special responsibility for Disability, Older People, Equality & Mental Health on 19 January 2012.

You can download the survey on the following link:

Public-Attitudes-to-Disability-in-Ireland-(PDF)

Fundamental Movement Skills for young children

CARA — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:20:19 +0000

Rachael Jefferson Buchanan who is coming from the UK and is presenting on the area of Fundamental Movement Skills for young children which would be of particular interest for anyone involved with childrens sport at a development level.

For more Information check out the following Fittsport Brochure 2012:
Fittsport-Brochure-2012

Donegal Sports Partnership Launch Sports Inclusion Disability Officer Report

CARA — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:15:21 +0000

The Sports Inclusion Disability Officer (SIDO) Programme was established in Donegal in early 2008, with the overall aim of increasing the participation of people with disabilities in sport and recreational physical activity. The SIDO programme is a national initiative under the umbrella of the Irish Sports Council and managed locally by the Donegal Sports Partnership.

Since its inception there have been many new and exciting developments in the area of disability sport and it is hoped that 2012 will see many more. The initiative which has proved a success in Donegal is now entering its fifth year and to-date has seen over 600 individuals participate in sport and recreational physical activity with 700 having partaken in education and training courses. A range of programmes now exist through the project in Donegal including; martial arts, wheelchair sports fundamental games, gaelic games, soccer, powerchair football, boccia, surfing and athletics to name a few.

The “Sports Inclusion Disability Officer Programme Report 2009-2011” has just been launched by Mr Dinny McGinley, Minister of State at the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs. The report summarises the key developments within the SIDO initiative, refreshes the key aims and objectives of the project and promotes ongoing and active participation of people of all abilities in sport and recreational physical activity.

SIDO with Donegal Sports Partnership Thérèse Laverty commented on the launch of the programme report “it’s great to have the opportunity to promote not only the work that has been done over the past few years but also the opportunities which now exist for the participation of people with disabilities of all ages in sport and physical activity. I would like to extend my thanks to the participants, community, voluntary and disability organisations, volunteers, schools and clubs who have supported our work. Also without the support of funding from agencies such as the Health Service Executive, Donegal Local Development Company and Irish Sports Council the project could not continue, so their support is very much appreciated. I look forward to developing the project further within the coming years.”

The SIDO report is available for download by visiting our website www.activedonegal.com and for further information or queries please contact Donegal Sports Partnership on 074 (91) 16078/16079 or by email on sidoactivedonegal@gmail.com .

Contact: Thérèse Laverty
Tel: 086 8349056
Email: sidoactivedonegal@gmail.com

Picture: Sports Inclusion Disability Officer Thérèse Laverty and Minister of State at the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs Dinny McGinley discuss the Summary Report

Picture: Special Guests at the launch of the Sports Inclusion Disability Officer Programme Report – Myles Sweeney (Coordinator Donegal Sports Partnership), Emma Jane Clarke (Irish Sports Council), Noel McBride (Mayor of Donegal), Dinny McGinley (Minister of State at the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs), Thérèse Laverty (SIDO Donegal Sports Partnership), Eamon Harvey (Chairman Donegal Sports Partnership) and Michael McGeehin (Coaching Ireland)

Fermoy Leisure Centre – OPEN DAY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

CARA — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:34:54 +0000

Last year Fermoy Leisure Centre held their first open day for People with Disabilities. It was a great success with complimentary pool facilities open to all people with disabilities who attended from as far as Dunmanway, Glenville and of course their regular customers from the Fermoy- Mitchelstown Area. There was a variety of fun activities available for children who attended on the day from face-painting, sensory hand painting, and a display from the Dogs for the Disabled. All participants where provided with complimentary drinks and snacks and Mr. Whimpi very kindly provided free ice cream on the day.

Fermoy Leisure Centre is an inclusive leisure centre which welcomes all people with disabilities into their centre and they were delighted to open their new accessible changing room facility also on the day which they now call the “Rainbow Room”. This they feel symbolises “anything is possible at the end of the rainbow”. The day was a great success and all the participants were delighted with the facilities and activities on the day. Fermoy Leisure Centre hopes to hold an open day for people with disabilities at least twice a year and continue to make improvements in striving for a more inclusive leisure centre build on this for the future. Caroline Casey said “We hope to train up our staff on adapted physical activity and hopefully in the future we will have some Paralympics competitors using and training in this facility in Fermoy”.

Caroline would like to thank all the participants who attended the day. She would also like to thank Aisling Drea of the Cork Local Sports Partnership, Paul Ryan of the IWA, The Rebel Wheelers, and Rose Carroll of Cork Co. Council who have assisted in securing funding for Fermoy Leisure Centre facilities in the past. For further information please contact Caroline Casey on (025) 33272 or e-mail Caroline.Casey@CorkCoCo.ie

Pitch and Putt Club for People with a Visual Impairment

CARA — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:25:28 +0000

A Pitch and Putt club for the people with a visual impairment took place last year in Ballinlough Pitch and Putt Club. The club has been going strong all summer playing one Saturday a month. Members of Ballinlough Pitch and Putt Club kindly gave up their time to volunteer as sighted guides to enable participants with a visual impairment to participate. All volunteers were provided with sighted guided training delivered by the NCBI Cork. The club is supported by Irish Blind Sports and the community garda van in Douglas Garda Station provide the vital transport needed from the train and bus stations to the club. The club began with four participants and has grown to a total of eight who all enjoy getting out, getting active and meeting new people. The welcome extended to the new participants by Ballinlough Pitch and Putt Club and the generosity of club members in giving up their time to volunteer as sighted guides and also providing the much needed tea and coffee and a chat afterwards is most appreciated by the group.

Merry Christmas from All the CARA APA Centre Team

CARA — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:04:05 +0000

Niamh, Linda, Liam and Tanja would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2012.

EUCAPA 2012 Deadline Extension to SUNDAY, JANUARY 15th AT MIDNIGHT

CARA — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:29:37 +0000

There is a buzz of excitement in the CARA office this week which has nothing to do with the arrival of the man in the red suit and more to do with the arriving emails with EUCAPA 2012 Abstract submissions.

We have now received submissions from some top class people from all over the world including Kenya, Canada, Israel and almost every country in Europe.

With the quality of our Keynote speakers already announced, EUCAPA 2012 is undoubtedly going to be a huge success.

We have extended the deadline for abstract submissions to Sunday, January 15th at midnight so why not submit a Presentation, Poster, Video or a Practical and get a chance to showcase your work to a European/world audience.

For information on how to submit an abstract go to www.eucapa2012.eu