Page 51 - SEN106 SEN Magazine May-June 2020

children and young people, and it can encourage the health and social care sectors to become better equipped to support them. This, in turn, will encourage stronger collaboration across these sectors, and even government at all levels can be influenced to understand and pay more attention to the role that sport and physical activities can play in the lives of all children and young people. The more we can encourage inclusion and participation in sport for people with disabilities and SEN, the more we can help to reshape attitudes and bring about real change in society. Franklyn is deafblind and has cerebral palsy and epilepsy. When rock climbing was first suggested to his support workers, they were unsure about whether he would be able to take part in the activity, as he had never tried anything like it before. For the first couple of weeks, Franklyn spent his time at the sessions becoming familiar with the environment, the equipment and the instructor. However, it wasn’t long before he started to try climbing with a member of the support staff climbing alongside him and encouraging him along the way. By week eight, Franklyn was regularly climbing to the top and starting to explore the climbing wall by himself. He has really taken to the activity and both his key support worker, Suzanne, and his mother have seen a big change in him. Suzanne said: “For Franklyn, the sessions have meant he has been able to develop a relationship with someone outside of the charity that supports him, a very trusting relationship with the instructor. He’s definitely become quite confident and it’s increased his strength.” How to support participation in sport It is essential that everyone involved in supporting children and young people with SEN and disabilities works closely together, and with the wider community, to develop a range of inclusive sports and physical activities that meet the needs of these young people. Experienced instructors and providers can help to make sessions enjoyable, accessible, inclusive and fun. A huge range of inclusive activities are available, from cycling and climbing, to dance, football, swimming, martial arts, table tennis and yoga. Flexibility is a key element in making these activities a success; sessions should be adapted depending on the needs, abilities and interests of the young person taking part. For example, yoga can be done standing or seated, while adapted bicycles can include tricycles, tandems and platform bikes for wheelchair users. Sometimes, participants also need to take their time to explore the space and equipment freely, and sessions can include fun games as a way of introducing people to the activities and getting them moving. When adapting sports to make them inclusive, it’s often about breaking down the principles of each sport into bitesize elements which can be explored in a more sensory way. For example, in inclusive football the principle of tackling to win possession of the football can be adapted to get participants to make shoulder-to-shoulder or foot-to-foot contact, encouraging them to use their own strength to experience tackling in a way that is more engaging to them. By taking an inclusive approach, and by being inventive, we can all work together to increase the range of sport and physical activities available to people with SEN and disabilities, so that no-one should be isolated, left out or unable to fulfil their potential. Experienced instructors and providers can help to make sessions enjoyable, accessible, inclusive and fun About the author Louis Wickett-Padgham is Sport and Physical Activity Development Manager at the charity Sense, which supports people living with complex disabilities, including those who are deafblind, to communicate and experience the world. sense.org.uk @LouisW_P @sensecharity ■ He’s become more confident and has increased his strength. senmagazine.co.uk SEN 106 51 Sport