Inclusion of people with disabilities through adapted physical activity in europe-what has been done!/what is left to do?

Por Nina Kahrs (Autor).

Em Athens 2004: Pre-olympic Congress

Integra

Introduction

The European network for improvement of formation programmes and sosial integration through adapted physical activity of persons with a disability (THENAPA) was launched by the co-ordinators, Prof, H. Van Coppenolle and Prof. J.C. Potter, at the Katolishe Universiteit, Leuven, February 2001 (Minutes, Leuven, 2000). The network is a Socrates acti n, Euro 18 and associate countries (Wouters, 1999).

After the first initial forum in Belgium there has been THENAPA forum in Norway 2000. Ireland 2000, Portugal 2001, Finland 2001, Hungary 2002 and then in Belgium again, to prepare for the final outcome of the THENAPA report on integration, recommendations and curriculum proposals (Potter, J.C. et al 2003; Van Coppenolle et al 2003).

2004 is the disseminations year and to close the THENAPA action on integration and start a new action, the last forum was held in Bulgaria 2003, where also the ADAPT CD-ROM was presented.

Methods

To obtain data for the report the method used was questionnaires, designed partly on experiences from Norway (Sørensen et al, 1999), on the European Charter on Sport for All; Disabled Persons (OECD, 1996) and on United Nations standard rules from 1994 on recreation and sport (UN 1994) and initial data gathered by the key persons abouth integration of people with disabilities in school physical education and sport., published to be discussed at the OSLO forum (THENAPA 2000). The basis of reports on formation was designed by the key persons and then data was collected by questionnaires abouth “APA” education in each of the countries in the network. The content of the ADAPT CD-ROM was designed by the key persons.

Results

The results of the work of the key persons shows that there are different actions on organising sport for disabled and where in the process of mainstreaming P.E. each country defines them selves.

The general impression is that there are more informal cooperation and integration on a local level that formally on an official level. The inclusion in P.E. and Sport is still a permanent challenge in some countries. There are still concerns about legal framework and formation opportunities in the different countries

Discussion

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the action to be taken in Europe concerning evaluation and implementation of the recommendations from the THENAPA network on integration, the development of formation actions and research. The implication of the shift of the terminology from integration to inclusion will also be taken into account.

References

[1]. Coppenolle, H.V (2003) Inclusion through Adapted Physical Activity, Thematic Network Education and Social Integration of Persons with a Disability through Adapted Physical Activity, Leuven, Belgium

[2]. Potter, J-C.D. et.al. (2003) Vocational Training in Adapted Physical Activity, Thematic Network Education and Social Integration of Persons with a Disability through Adapted Physical Activity, Leuven, Belgium

[3]. Sorensen, M.et.al.(1999) Evaluation of the integration process in Norwegian sport; firsat report, Norwegian University of Sport and Physical Education, Norway

[4]. THENAPA (2002) Work Document; Integration of Persons with a Handicap through Adapted Physical Activity Oslo May, 10 – 14, Norway.