Issue 4 Nov 2017

UNESCO chair was represented at the 18th
The
Conference of the Engagement
Annual
Consortium in Birmingham,
Scholarship
24th-27th September 2017. The
Alabama,
focused on Best Practices in
consortium
Scholarship. Ms. Edel
Community-Engaged
(ITT), Dr. Jackie Gallagher (ITT) and
Randles
Honsberger (Els Foundation, Florida)
Christine
the UNESCO chair presented the
representing
of the #GameONTM Autism Golf
outcomes
#GameON AutismTM Golf Program-Ireland
The
is based in Castelgregory Golf Course, Co.
which
has approximately fourteen children, nine
Kerry,
and a PGA coach engaged with the
volunteers
The #GameON AutismTM Golf
programme.
consists of group lessons with specially
Program
golf instruction incorporating key
designed
learning concepts: communication
autism
regulatory skills, motor skills and social
skills,
thus incorporating therapeutic elements
skills
address behaviours specific to autism
to
disorder (Wong, C. et al., 2013).
spectrum
presentation was titled ‘Golf – Widening the
The
on Autism and Creating a Community’
Lens
it explored how engagement with the
and
Program not only enabled our
#GameON
left:: Dr. Jackie Gallagher, Christine Honsberger an d Edel Randles
Photos:
right:: Edel Randles, Dr. Jackie Gallagher and Karin Korb
Top
to flourish, as evidenced though the
coach)
of ‘communities’. This programme
development
the first opportunity for these young people
provided
meet outside of school for any type of
to
activity. Their parents/guardians
sport/recreational
up a social network, enabling them to share
built
on common issues and supports, thus
information
social capital through shared solidarity. A
building
of advocates was also evidenced through
community
volunteer involvement with the program;
student
lens on golf, autism, golf club environments and
their
possibilities has been widened expansively,
inclusive
generating strong advocates for therapeutic
thus
opportunities for people with autism.
recreational
Information: edel.randles@staff.ittralee.ie;
Further
jackie.gallagher@staff.ittralee.ie
in Birmingham, Jackie and Edel had the
Whilst
to tour the Lakeshore Foundation, home
opportunity
the US Olympic & Paralympic Team Training and
of
Wheelchair Rugby. Karin Korb provided a
USA
overview of the programmes, both
comprehensive
and elite, available for people with
recreational
A n n u a l C o n f e r e n c e o f t h e
E n g a g e m e n t S c h o l a r s h i p
C o n s o r t i u m
Program – Ireland.
disabilities at this very impressive venue.
participants (the children, volunteers and the
U N E S C O C h a i r I T T r a l e e N e w s l e t t e r | p g 2 5
right: Photo: researcher and volunteer Dominique Wehrcamp and a golfer