Sports Ability
What is Sports Ability?
Sports Ability is an exciting initiative from the Australian Sports Commission designed to encourage people with disabilities to get involved and participate in sport and physical activity across Australia.
It is an inclusive activities program with two main aims:
To provide those working in a physical activity and sport setting with more ways of including people with disabilities, and
To provide a means for people with and without disabilities to interact in a sporting environment.
What does Sports Ability consist of?
There are three elements of Sports Ability:
- Equipment for five inclusive activities - three of which are Paralympic sports.
- Resource material - consisting of easy-to-use activity cards and instructional DVDs.
- Training - which is available in each state and territory through the Australian Sports Commission’s Disability Sport Network. For further information regarding training, email connier@vicsport.asn.au or telephone 9926 1376,
Sports Ability equipment kits can now be ordered exclusively through Modern Teaching Aids (MTA).
To order contact Modern Teaching Aids: Freecall: 1800 251 497 Freefax: 1800 151 492 Email: sales@teaching.com.au
Sports CONNECT - "connecting sport and people with disabilities"
Sports CONNECT is the new branding for the Australian Sports Commission's inclusive sport framework, which aims to boost the participation of people with disabilities in sport and physical activity.
The framework is represented by the following graphic:
Insert new framework diagram:
Currently, 25 National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) have made a commitment to the Sports CONNECT framework. Each national body has an ASC-appointed Case Manager to help them develop and implement Disability Action Plans for their sport.
The sports involved are:
Athletics, Swimming, Tenpin Bowling, Tennis, Basketball, Yachting, Table Tennis, Softball, Baseball, Riding for the Disabled/Pony Club, Surfing, Cricket, Golf, Gymnastics, Netball, Cycling, Australian Football, Shooting, Rowing, Surf Life Saving, Lawn Bowls, Volleyball, Rugby Union, Football, Rugby League.
The Disability Action Plan for NSOs is based on four levels of achievement - Green, Bronze, Silver and Gold. It will be the goal of every Disability Action Plan to achieve Gold Standard over a five- year period. By Gold level, it is expected that the Disability Action Plan will no longer exist and that ongoing strategies to address inclusion are embedded in the organisation's Strategic and Operational Plans.
The role of the Case Manager is critical in helping drive a national sporting organisation's commitment to the inclusion of people with disabilities over the long term. Vicsport’s Sports CONNECT coordinators are currently the National Case Manager for:
Sport and Recreation Victoria's Website www.sport.voc.gov.au can give you more information regarding AAA providers and other disability organisations.