Strategy 2012-2015 - Special Olympics Ireland

Special Olympics Ireland Strategy 2012-2015Special Olympics IrelandStrategy 2012 – 2015Long-term vision:To build a sustainable Special Olympics Ireland programme so that every person with anintellectual disability has the opportunity, in their local community, to participate in highquality sport and development activities that bring life-changing experiences of increasedskills, self-confidence and joy.Key Challenges Ahead:• Addressing sport participation byIntellectual Disability Service Providersand Special Schools»»Cuts in funding in government departmentareas such as Health and Education areimpacting on the participation levels ofathletes and coaches within IntellectualDisability Service Provider Centres andSpecial Schools and this has led to anincrease in the number withdrawing fromdevelopment activities and competition. Asa direct consequence, there are athletes whono longer have access to the programmeoffered by Special Olympics and, in addition,there is a greater demand on communitybasedclubs.• Attending to gaps in provision to somechildren and young adults»»Many children and young adults with anintellectual disability now attend mainstreamschools thus driving a need to ensurethat there is communication with schools,parents and students to educate them onopportunities in Special Olympics.»»Students with an intellectual disabilitytransferring from a school setting to avail ofservices offered by an Intellectual DisabilityService Provider may not necessarilyautomatically have access to SpecialOlympics activities. Many of these athletesmay have been participating for severalyears but may find they have no sportstraining during this transition period.• Managing the need and new demands»»Our athlete age-profile is changing andmany of our ageing athletes now find theirchosen sport less appropriate and theseathletes, their families and coaches arelooking to Special Olympics for support infinding alternative physical activities.»»Children with an intellectual disability under6 years of age are the athletes of the futureand Special Olympics currently has little orno offering to the families of these youngathletes.»»Athletes wishing to participate in theAthlete Leadership Programme (ALPs) areexperiencing difficulty in finding a mentor.»»There is a stronger focus on leading ahealthy lifestyle in society in general anddemand is growing for health promotion tobe an integral part of the sports programmeoffered by Special Olympics.» » Growth in athlete and club numbers, andcorresponding quality development in sportstraining, has seen an increasing demand foradditional competitive opportunities, some ofwhich are currently being addressed throughinter-club activities and development days.9