Description
The ‘Active, Healthy and Happy’ project aims to minimize the inequality between disabled and non-disabled people. Disabled persons of various ages do not engage enough in physical activities and are therefore more susceptible to diseases. Physical activity is one of the main factors contributing to a healthy life and the disabled should be offered equal opportunities for a healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately the fact remains that even disabled children and youth are unable to equally participate in national sports programmes and activities, as those are not made fit to their needs. The disabled are therefore at a disadvantage and left-out from the very early ages and those negative patterns and physical inactivity continue in other periods of their lives. Our project will develop new programmes for the disabled of all ages but with an emphasis on children and youth. It aims to qualify specialists to carry out disabled-specific programmes and at the same time develop activities for the integration of the disabled into regular sports programmes of different sporting and other organizations. Through the "Active, Healthy and Happy" project, we will adapt the national programs Little Sunshine, Golden Sunshine, Krpan, Healthy Lifestyle, Learn to Swim & school sport competitions for all groups with disabilities. The project’s partners will offer the possibility of inter-department cooperation, bringing together experts from various fields to develop adequate programmes. Norwegian partners will play a special role since Norway is far ahead of Slovenia regarding sports activities programmes for the disabled and their integration into sports.
Summary of project results
The project's main objective was to integrate people with disability into sport and sport organizations with the aim to reduce inequalities between user groups. The existing programs for children and youth to develop physical activity that are already running in schools are not accessible in full for children and youth with disabilities. Therefore the purpose of the project was to adapt these programs to include children and youth with different disabilities (intellectual disabilities, sensory impairments, physical disabilities). The programs were developed and written in a manual and e-brochure. 20 events per program were executed order to test and implement adaptations. All age groups of population were included in the project. Within the project 10 different exercise programs for adults and elderly people with disabilities were also developed. The objective of the programs for adults and elderly population was to encourage and motivate this population to become active on daily basis at home or in sports clubs. The exercises are simple and demand no special equipment. They are presented in a manual and an e-brochure with visual presentation of exercises. As a part of the project, several educational activities to transfer the knowledge to experts working in schools, NGOs, sports clubs, etc. were carried out. The members of the expert group joined several conferences, workshops, meetings in order to transfer the knowledge and project materials to professionals and stakeholders. More than 700 experts were included in educational events (PE teachers, primary school teachers, special educators, sport programs leaders, NGO managers, students – PE, special education,…). These experts were able to test and understand the programs and will be able to execute them in the future.
Summary of bilateral results
The Norwegian partner Valnesfjord Helsesportssenter visited URI Soča, CIRIUS Kamnik and CUDV Draga. These three Slovenian partners presented the role of new sport programs and adapted physical activity in their institutions. They also presented the organisation of health care of particular child in these institutions. Such additional sport programs are not implemented in Norway, but there is the intention to implement similar programs in Norwegian kindergartens and in primary schools and to involve pupils with special needs into such programs. The Norwegian partner presented APA (adapted physical activity) strategy with the objective to involve as many participants into regular sport activity. The Norwegian partner also presented new sports equipment, new possibilities of adaptation of programs and their way of rehabilitation based on sports. A wider perception of sport therapy and holistic approach to rehabilitation of person with disabilities was presented to the Slovenian expert group. In Norway, a different approach to sports activity and people with disability is taken. The perspective of the Norwegian partner was important for Slovenian expert group to widen their mind. We believe that the same influence had Slovenia’s experts perspective on the Norwegian partner. The Norwegian partner and Slovenian project partners exchanged examples of good practices. Partners are discussing further expert exchange possibilities.