SIDO Year 1 Annual Report (March 2008 - February 2009)

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Case StudiesCase Study One:Junior ParticipantName:Kyle BurnsAge: 10Address:Disability:SligoIntellectualKyle first came to the attention of the Sports Inclusion Disability Officer throughhis father Martin back in September 2008. Kyle’s parents were very keen for himto become more involved in sports activities in general as this would help both hisphysical and social development. Kyle’s first involvement came through hisparticipation in the Games For All programme on Saturday mornings where heattended regularly in the company of other young people with intellectualdisabilities. During these sessions Kyle showed significant improvements in hiscore fundamental skills, which encouraged his parents to enroll him in theInclusive Sports Hall Athletics programme. This athletics programme enabledKyle’s personal development further as not only was he practicing a range of thephysical skills he had learned previously, he was now putting them together toexperience his first steps into the sport of athletics. Furthermore, as this was aninclusive programme Kyle had the opportunity to mix and socialise with childrenof all ability levels in a safe and controlled environment. Through contact withKyle’s parents the SIDO has learnt that Kyle now attends the local GAA clubtraining for his age group and he takes a full part in sporting and physicaleducation activities at his primary school in Carraroe.“Kyle has really enjoyed the programmes he has attended. He hasbenefited in a great way from his involvement and has really come on over theweeks. He gets so excited about going every week now and the care andattention he gets is amazing. I’d love to see more programmes like this as it’s agreat platform for the kids to start and the benefits are huge”Martin - Kyle’s Father22
Case Study TwoAdult ParticipantName:Tom KavanaghAge: 40Address:Disability:SligoVisualTom initially made contact with the SIDO back in May 2008 with a specific interest inpursuing the sport of tandem cycling. Tom is visually impaired and although he had anopportunity to try out tandem cycling previously there were no avenues available for himto participate in the sport locally on a more regular basis. Following an initial meetingbetween Tom and the local SIDO a link was established with the local InnisfreeWheelers Cycling Club, who were allocated funding for the purchase of a tandem bike.Thus the tandem cycling initiative was established and an initial ‘come and try’ tandemcycling day was held at the IT athletics track. The purpose of this was to provide otherlocal visually impaired individuals with the opportunity to try out the sport of tandemcycling, but also to try and identify some cycling club members who might like to becometandem pilots. Tom attended this session but had his sights set on much bigger goals,namely completing the Sligo event of the An Post Tour Series, and the Malin to MizenHead Cycle which takes place annually and leads the participants across the countryfrom Cork to Donegal. The next step of the initiative involved the cycling club setting upan indoor spinning programme which three visually impaired athletes, including Tomattended along with other club members. This provided some important fitness trainingfor all of those involved, and was particularly suitable for those with a visual impairmentas it was both safe, accessible and part of the general club activities. Following this atandem pilot was identified who proceeded to train with Tom out on the open roads ofSligo in preparation for the Malin to Mizen challenge which is scheduled for June 2009.“Tandem cycling has given me, and I speak from the perspective of a visuallyimpaired person, an opportunity to actively participate in an outdoor sport which mightotherwise be denied to me. The provision of a tandem bike and pilot has enabled me toattain a high level of fitness which, for a guy in his mid 40's, is not a bad thing at all.Most significantly of all though, participating in the 2009 cycle from Mizen Head to MalinHead in aid of Irish Guide Dogs marked a major milestone in my life. I fully intend tocontinue tandem cycling and try to maintain a level of fitness which will enable me totake part in next year's Mizen to Malin also. My guide dog has given me back a lot of myindependence and cycling has allowed me to be an equal participant in an event whichis more than 430 miles long and takes 6 days to complete. Cycling from Mizen Head toMalin Head has allowed me to give something back, in a meaningful way, to Irish GuideDogs.”Tom Kavanagh – Visually Impaired Cyclist23
Page 1 and 2: Sports Inclusion Disability Project
Page 3 and 4: MessagesMessage from SSRP Co-ordina
Page 5 and 6: SIDO Aims and ObjectivesThe work pr
Page 7 and 8: Getting Started - Project LaunchSli
Page 9 and 10: Sports Ability Day 2008Sligo Sport
Page 11 and 12: Games For AllThis programme targets
Page 13 and 14: Inclusive Sports ClubsSligo Athleti
Page 16 and 17: Sligo all Stars Special Olympics Ba
Page 18 and 19: Sligo Walking Week 2008 Embraces Al
Page 20 and 21: Easkey Family Resource Centre who w
Page 24 and 25: ChallengesWhile the SIDO project ov
Page 26: Contact DetailsAnyone interested in

SIDO Year 1 Annual Report (March 2008 - February 2009)

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