Living Inclusively

Ongoing Demand for Training Opportunities
13/05/2015 15:40

ICSSPE in co-operation with the Fürst Donnersmarck-Foundation and Freie Universität Berlin hosted a panel discussion which looked at chances and challenges when designing inclusive sport programmes.

 

“We need more and better training opportunities for teachers and coaches”, was the final comment of one of the participants after the panel discussion which was held on the occasion of the release of ICSSPE’s latest handbook Different. Just like you – A psychosocial approach promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities which was produced under the leadership of the International Reference Centre of Red Cross and  Red Crescent Societies and in co-operation with Juul Kommunikation and Light for the World.

 

Despite increasing awareness among teachers and coaches for specific needs of persons with disabilities and growing training opportunities to provide inclusive classes and training, inclusive programmes still face severe challenges. “If we, for example, provide a training for multipliers we are facing the question, who covers additional expenses for braille or interpreters for sign language?”, said former ICSSPE President Gudrun Doll-Tepper. “If we want sport to be truly inclusive, we are thinking of athletes, coaches and other groups.” She and other panel members like Carsten Wolf, Board Member of the Bürgerstiftung Steglitz-Zehlendorf and wheelchair athlete; Katja Lüke, Consultant for Inclusion in and through Sport, at the German Olympic Sports Confederation; and Erika Schmidt-Gotz, Director of the National Information Centre for Adapted Physical Activity discussed existing challenges but also informed participants of the growing number of opportunities.

 

The panel which took place 17th April 2015 in Berlin was co-moderated by ICSSPE Executive Director Detlef Dumon and Sean Bussenius, Head of Communication at the Villa Donnersmarck in Berlin.

 

The handbook Different. Just like you – A psychosocial approach promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities aims at professionals who work inclusively, and provides background knowledge and practical support on how to organise inclusive physical activities for everyone.

 

Free copies are available through the ICSSPE office; the pdf-version can be downloaded from the ICSSPE website at https://www.icsspe.org/content/different-just-you-pdf