![]() | Current Issues | No.49 January 2007 |
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Abstract
THENAPA and THENAPA II are two international Thematic Networks coordinated
by Prof. Dr. Herman Van Coppenolle from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
in Belgium. In these projects, a number of specialists are working together
in order to improve the quality of life of persons with special needs.
Among other goals, the projects seek to promote healthy lifestyles through
Adapted Physical Activity and to increase the opportunities for people
with disabilities to participate in different kinds of physical activities. Article
Promoting physical activity as a crucial factor of healthy lifestyles
is currently recognised throughout the world. According to World Health
Organization (WHO) “Every U.S. Adult should accumulate 30 minutes
or more of moderate-intensity activity on most if not all days of the
week.” Physical Activity is not only the key to maintaining/improving physical health, but also has its benefits in psychosocial well-being. Sport and active lifestyle is becoming popular in the world, especially with trends toward adoration of health, beauty and youth. This fashion is widely spread, not without reason. Over the past years, the patterns of living have dramatically changed across Europe. The so-called sedentary lifestyle has become one of our biggest enemies. The great development of technology allows us to do many things with the smallest possible effort. It did not take long for people to notice that compensation for this is necessary. The need for exercising has been proven by numerous researchers all over the globe, and the benefits of physical activity are indisputable. However, there is a group of people who are often forgotten when talking about healthy lifestyle, physical activity and sports. People with disabilities are a minority group that can benefit from physical activity in the same dimensions as ‘able bodied’ persons. Despite growing popularity of such great events as Paralympics or Special Olympics, the needs of disabled people are often being neglected. This was the main reason for a group of specialists coming together under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Herman Van Coppenolle, from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium, bringing together their knowledge in order to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities and increasing their opportunities to receive all of the benefits of physical activity. In the last 8 years, 5 international projects have been coordinated by KULeuven, among them two Thematic Networks in Adapted Physical Activity (THENAPA). What is a Thematic Network?
Thematic Networks are one of the innovations of
the Socrates-Erasmus program, which is organised and sponsored by the
European Commission. It was officially launched in May 1996. The idea
of the Network is to deal with “forward-looking, strategic reflection
on the scientific, educational and institutional issues in the main fields
of higher education”(1). It is done by establishing cooperation
between different departments of higher education institutions and other
partners, and working together in order to achieve the goal which is to
“enhance quality and to define and develop a European dimension
within a given academic discipline or study area that ultimately leads
to improving the quality of education and training”(2). Cooperation within Thematic Networks is expected to lead to outcomes which will have a lasting and widespread impact on universities across Europe. THENAPA
Despite promotions and regulations on integration of people with disabilities,
it is a fact that too many people are still excluded and deprived of
opportunities to participate in society. Children and adults with a
disability are often excluded from participation in regular physical
education due to the fact that they are not fully integrated in the
regular school system and society. This is partly due to a lack of knowledge.
The European educational system is unprepared for meeting the needs
of people with disabilities in an integrated setting. In order to bridge
this educational gap, a Thematic Network for Educational and Social
integration of Persons with a Disability through Adapted Physical Activity
(THENAPA) was started in 1999. The aim of the project was to improve
education of Adapted Physical Activity (APA) professionals throughout
Europe and consequently improve quality of life for persons with disabilities.
Over four years, experts from 23 European countries united their knowledge
and experience and agreed on a common European program of the basics
in APA and sports for persons with a disability. They defined the number
of credits as well as the fundamental content of the future European
training programs in this domain at all educational levels; in the studies
of physical education, rehabilitation, recreation and sport performance.
In order to make this basic curriculum attractive and visual, a CD-ROM
called 'ADAPT' was produced. THENAPA II
The idea of launching a new Thematic Network was born before the first
THENAPA project was finished. Observing the dynamic changes in demography
across Europe, the experts had to agree that one of the most important
changes over the last 50 years had been the rapid increase in the number
of people living into their 70s, 80s and beyond. Today, people aged
75 years and over form 7.5% of the overall European population, but
in 30 years this percentage will rise to 14.4%. Most of those ageing
people will have some physical or mental disability, regardless whether
they acquired this disability at birth or obtained it later in life
or it just happened as a consequence of the normal process of ageing.
The “Eurostat” data estimate that by the end of 2040, severely
impaired adults will represent 6.5% of the total population in Europe,
or 24.5 million people.
Benefiting from the expertise obtained in the previous network, the
THENAPA II: "Ageing and disability - a new crossing between physical
activity, social inclusion and life-long well-being" was launched
in 2004. The new cooperation has started with the participation of representatives
of universities and higher education institutions from 29 countries
under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Herman Van Coppenolle.
The objectives of the network were drawn based on
the strong belief that the traditional disability model has recently changed
to agree with the suggestion that disability is not only the consequence
of a disease or an accident but also of lifestyle choices. Ageing is a
process which brings gains as well as losses: gains, because it brings
maturity, wisdom and respect; and losses, because it often affects and
restricts the physical and psychological level and devalues the social
perceptions of people who are growing older. Numerous research projects
have successfully demonstrated that the benefits of physical activity
for health are indisputable. As seniors are the fastest growing age group,
attention needs to be given to them as a special population with specific
needs in the area of exercise and sport.
Qualified professionals in the area of physical activity for the elderly have to be prepared, so they can meet the new demands of the future. The main objectives of THENAPA II are:
Over the past two years, with the existence of THENAPA
II, specialists from 66 higher education institutions and organisations
have worked together in order to reach the goals of the network. Entering
the third and last year of the project, we can proudly announce that many
of the objectives are already achieved and the influence of our work is
clearly visible in many of the participating countries.
For its success, THENAPA II participants worked not
only during the four annual forums that were held in Malta, Lithuania,
Romania and Cyprus, but also during the national meetings organised in
every participating country. The impact of the meetings in Bulgaria, Germany,
Greece and Norway surpassed expectations. Not only the representatives
of the universities shared there their knowledge, but also serious discussions
between different Ministries, non-governmental organisations, sports federations
and sport clubs, foundations and unions were held. The influence of those
meetings on the awareness of professionals and policymakers is undeniable.
The THENAPA II coordinating team and all the members
of the network took part in many European and world wide events. Interpersonal
contacts and inter-network cooperation are being established in order
to disseminate the information and products of THENAPA II.
Those actions resulted in launching cooperation with
such prominent networks as EGREPA (European Group for Research into Elderly
and Physical Activity) and EUNAAPA (European Network for Action on Ageing
and Physical Activity) that have become our associated partners as well
as with renowned European organisations in the field of Adapted Physical
Education such as IFAPA (International Federation of Adapted Physical
Activity).
The results of THENAPA II were presented for example
during: the 9th international conference of EGREPA in Portugal in March
2005, the International Symposium on Adapted Physical Activity (ISAPA)
in Verona, in June 2005, the 11th ECSS congress in Switzerland in July
2006, and many others. The European Master in Adapted Physical Activity for
the Elderly.
It is necessary that in the near future, caregivers, physical educators,
physiotherapists, etc. acquire better knowledge of ageing, disability
and physical activity. However there is a gap in the educational system
for the elderly with a disability and physical activity. The programs
that currently exist include either the subject of physical activity
for elderly or physical activity for disabled people but there is no
program that combines those fields.
THENAPA II wants to contribute to this by developing
the European Master in Adapted Physical Activity for the Elderly, consisting
of 11 study modules. This will create competencies in a variety of specialist
areas.
The program designed by the THENAPA II group finds
its origins in the International Guidelines for Preparing Physical Activity
Instructors of Older Adults, created by the International Society for
Ageing and Physical Activity. Each module has been adapted and further
developed by specialists in the area of each specific module. A master
thesis and internship in the course of the program will eventually make
the bridge between theory and practise.
The modules that are included in the program are:
This master program will be delivered in cooperation
between university faculties and departments, which will contribute to
the students’ mobility in search for the greatest expertise in the
area. By creating this program throughout Europe, we aim for a lifelong
learning process by raising awareness that not only the adoption of positive
health related behaviours, but also their maintenance, is crucial as the
population is continuously ageing.
The next step to developing this study program is
aimed directly at the population of elderly disabled persons. Motivational
movies will be produced and distributed to show this population the possible
ways of exercising and encourage them to become more physically active.
THENAPA II not only approaches the educational institutions
and the population of the elderly, but also tries to have an impact on
legal organisations. Thanks to the excellent exchange of information between
the Thematic Network and different institutions, there has already been
a marked increase in the interest of policy makers in the elderly, with
or without disabilities. In the social policy field, serious concerns
have arisen with regard to the activation and rehabilitation of the elderly
population.
We hope that, thanks to our multidimensional work,
the results of our efforts will be of great significance for the near
future. We wish that the quality of life for elderly disabled persons
will increase due to better knowledge and understanding of the physical
activities adapted to their needs. References
1& 2. Derived from the website of the European Commission : http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/socrates/tnp/index_en.html
Contact
Aldona Niemero
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Leuven, Belgium Aldona.Niemiro@faber.kuleuven.be For more information about our Thematic Networks, please visit the websites: http://www.kuleuven.be/thenapa/ www.thenapa2.org ![]() http://www.icsspe.org/portal/index.php?w=1&z=5 |