Learning Disability Week 2015: tackling the myths and misconceptions
Learning Disability Week 2015 is taking place from 15-21 June. The national charity, Mencap, is leading the campaign and this year's theme is about tackling learning disability myths and misconceptions. Alongside partners Mencap and Special Olympics GB, the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) recognises benefits that being active can have on the lives of people with an intellectual impairment.
There are 1.4 million people with a learning disability in the UK. Over 1 million adults aged 20 years and above and 410,000 children aged up to 19 years have a learning disability (Papworth Trust, 2014).
14.8% of people with a learning disability aged 16 and over take part in sport once a week, compared with 39.4% of non-disabled people (Sport England, APS8, 2014). However Public Health England reports that 2 of out 3 people with a learning disability would like to do more sport and physical activity.
EFDS works with National Governing Bodies of sport, National Disability Sport Organisations (NDSOs) and other providers to encourage more people with a learning disability to take part in sport and physical activity.
What is a learning disability?
This week Mencap want to dispel the myths and misconceptions about learning disability. They’ve created a short guide and video to raise awareness and help more people understand what a learning disability is and isn’t.
English Learning Disability Sports Alliance
The English Learning Disability Sports Alliance (ELDSA) is a unique partnership between two NDSOs, Special Olympics GB and Mencap Sport to promote the inclusion of people with a learning disability in sport and physical activity. They provide a single united voice and believe that everyone with a learning disability should have the same sporting opportunities as non-disabled people.
Mencap Sport work train and support organisations to provide more sporting opportunities for people with a learning disability. This summer Mencap Sport a running two national sports event for people with a learning disability. National Athletics Championships in Watford on Saturday 27 June and the British Swimming Championships on 22-23 August.
Special Olympics GB provide year-round sports training and competition opportunities, in a wide range of sports for children and adults with a learning disability, regardless of their ability. They work with over 4,000 volunteers and 150 sports clubs in England, Scotland and Wales, to support 8,000 athletes with learning disabilities to take part in sport.
This summer Special Olympics GB are heading to Los Angeles with a team of athletes to complete at the Special Olympics World Games. From 25 July to 2 August over 7,000 athletes, 3,000 coaches, 30,000 volunteers will take the global stage to showcase sport for people with a learning disability at its finest.
The ELDSA recently published an EasyRead guide to sport and physical activity sport for people with a learning disability. Titled ‘Let’s Get Active’ it helps people find and access sporting activities in their local area. View the Let’s Get Active guide.
My Sport My Voice!
‘My Sport My Voice!’ is a national campaign from the UK Sports Association for People with Learning Disability that aims to challenge perceptions of learning disability and elite sport. By providing a platform for the UK’s elite athletes with a learning disability to showcase their sporting achievements and inspire others to succeed. The project is backed by EFDS, Scottish Disability Sport, Disability Sport Wales and Disability Sports Northern Ireland.
Tracey McCillen, Chief Executive at the UK Sports Association said:
‘My Sport, My Voice! provides a platform for our athletes to share those experiences, to inspire others and to raise the profile of athletes with learning disability. The athletes are at the very centre of the project and are having their voices heard.’
Coaching support
Sports Coach UK with guidance from NDSOs have compiled a set of fact sheets and top tips about coaching disabled people with specific impairments. The fact sheets offer advice and guidance about how to be more inclusive approach to coaching disabled people.
ELDSA offers a ‘Learning Disability in Sport’ workshop, aimed at sports clubs, coaches, teachers and activators to educate and help them feel confident to provide sporting opportunities for people with a learning disability.
Take part in Learning Disability Week 2015
Mencap is encouraging everyone to take part in Learning Disability Week to help raise awareness. Here’s a few ways you can get involved:
- Share your sport and activity stories with us on social media using #LDWeek15
- Spread the word! Join the Thunderclap on Twitter and Facebook. A thunderclap is an online action which makes messages louder by sending them out together.
If you are interested in learning more about the opportunities available to people with a learning disability, visit the English learning Disability Sports Alliance (ELDSA) organisations Special Olympics GB and Mencap Sport.
