General Information
A COACHES MOTTO
Coach a normal session.
Observe the disabilities.
Allow for the disability.
Consideration-Co-operation-Co-ordination
Humour in the session.
To Coach special needs students, does not mean you have to take another coaching exam. I believe all you need is to attend a disability awareness course, to gain knowledge, then coach a class like any other session.
Every person needs help in a sport and it is the coaches ability, to adapt a technique or move for any player, which will suit the individual needs of that player. when working with people with special needs the same skills are needed.
When with special needs students of various disabilities, the coaches/officials take on more roles and tasks, if travelling to competitions.
You will become a Carer/Coach/Nurse/Helper. If you feel you could not cope with these tasks, it would make life very difficult when you are attending events.
If you are a referee at an event, your role is more demanding for students with low judo abilities in the lower levels.You have to encourage and help both contestants, without showing favouritism to either contestant.
You will find after 3 or 4 contests you will need to rest.
Remember the game.
Evaluate the disability.
Further your communication with hand movements.
Endeavour to use common sense.
Referee with a smile.
Ettiquette is important.
Enjoy yourself.
WHAT DOES SPECIAL NEEDS MEAN?
On these project we speak of Disabilities/Handicaps/Able-bodied/Special Needs.
It is difficult to find the right terminology without our minds thinking of discrimination.TERMINOLOGY IS THE BIGGEST BARRIER IN OUR RECRUITMENT,
Dont be afraid, we accept that mistakes can be made, for instance if we are taking a judo session and ask everyone to stand up "we might have a student in a wheelchair" who cannot stand, this makes us sing out apologies.""""DONT WORRY DISABLED STUDENTS UNDERSTAND""""
Below are some meanings of words taken from the english dictionary.
HANDICAP - A race, contest,in which chances are equalised by weights carried,starts etc,condition so imposed,disadvantage.
DISABILITY - Thing that disables, Drawback.
SPECIAL - Particular,Peculiar, Designed for a particular purpose.
ABLE-BODIED - Robust, First class,Seaman.
DISABILITY AWARENESS
It is simplistic to talk of ‘the disabled’ as if they were a homogeneous group because the term includes the deaf, blind, amputees, paraplegics, those with cerebral palsy and the mentally handicapped, each with their own hopes and aspirations.
Quantifiable data on participation in sport by disabled people is difficult to obtain, but evidence of local initiatives shows a wide range of provision for people with different disabilities.
National and Internationally recognised classification is the first essential step towards giving ‘the disabled’ the recognition and status they deserve.
INTEGRATION
Now is the time the future will be too late.
Together we can educate.
Every life is worth living.
Grants are not what its all about.
Reach out and let us in.
Alone we may disintegrate.
Touch us we do not bite.
Its fun to be together.
One day you might need us,now will you help us.
Now will you help us.