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Get out and get some fresh air

February 19, 2011 by Leave a Comment

A sensory garden works on the same basis as a sensory room, only it is outside. The sensory garden, like the sensory room, is specifically and carefully designed to stimulate the senses and let people develop and explore their senses.

Who can benefit from a sensory garden?

Many sensory gardens are open to members of the public and anyone can visit them. However, some are restricted to specific individuals. Sensory gardens can be used by people in good health, as well as those with health conditions, special needs and disabilities. Often, sensory gardens are found at nursing and residential homes, centres that provide care for children with special needs and disabilities, nurseries and schools and hospitals.

What are the benefits of a sensory garden?

A sensory garden is designed to allow people to develop and explore their senses. The garden will enable them to see, smell, touch, hear and maybe even taste, new things and will also provide them with a calming, relaxing space where they can take time out either alone or with friends.

Sensory gardens are not normal gardens; they are designed very carefully with a group or an individual in mind. Often sensory gardens are found in care homes and centres and homes that look after children or adults with special needs or disorders, but they may also be found in public parks and gardens.

What is in the sensory garden?

All gardens are different but the make-up of the garden is designed to give users a sensory experience, so equipment, plants, furniture and features are selected carefully in order to create this experience. You may find the following items in a sensory garden:

  • Edible flowers and plants
  • Strongly-scented plants
  • Textured touch pads and toys for children
  • Sculptures
  • Water features
  • Lights
  • Music

If the garden is being used by wheelchair users or children, you will probably find that everything is low to the floor or at ground level to allow users to access all the facilities and features on offer in the garden.

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How to get involved in disabled sports

January 27, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Disabled sport has become an increasingly important consideration for local councils and the government. As a result, the number of facilities has increased significantly in recent years and more people are participating in disabled sport than even before.

Where can I find details of local facilities and venues?

If you are interested in joining a team, starting a sport, signing up with a gym or finding out about facilities for disabled sport in your area, you can contact the local council. Many venues are used by disabled people, as well as able bodied people, while others are designed specifically for disabled participants. Often a venue will host specialist disabled sport sessions and offer rooms that are adapted to suit the needs of disabled clients; for example, the gym may have specially adapted equipment and machines.

Elite disabled venues

Elite paralympic athletes compete in a variety of different countries, stadiums and sports centres. The plans for London 2012, the next Paralympic Games, are extremely impressive, with millions of pounds being invested into venues as well as training facilities, infrastructure and athlete’s accommodation.

The Paralympic World Cup has been hosted in Manchester since 2005. The competition allows athletes to compete on a world stage at an impressive venue, the Aquatics Centre. Competitions and tournaments are hosted all around the world and stadiums and disabled facilities are becoming increasingly impressive and innovative.

Access for all

The government has invested a lot of time and money into making sport more accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. Policies and measures have been introduced to allow everyone to get involved in sport. Local councils are now encouraged to make leisure activities accessible to disabled customers and leisure providers are required by law to make their premises accessible to people with disabilities. Councils and schools are also being encouraged to provide a larger range of activities, which incorporate disabled sports and sessions for disabled people, such as swimming and gym sessions, for example.

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Wheelchair rugby

December 19, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Rugby is one of the UK’s most popular sports, with thousands of people regularly participating in the sport. In recent years, rugby has also become increasingly popular amongst disabled people and many clubs have been formed. The RFU (Rugby Football Union) has pledged support to new clubs and teams in a bid to make sport more inclusive and encourage people of all backgrounds, races and ages, as well as those with disabilities to get involved in sport.

Wheelchair rugby: what does it involve?

Wheelchair rugby is played on a basketball court, with each team having four players. Players must pall the ball to each other and carry the ball over the opposition’s goal line. Contact between the chairs is allowed but physical contact between players is prohibited. Players use a white ball, which is exactly the same size and shape as a volleyball. The game is played over four eight minute quarters.

Wheelchair rugby is a fast-paced, high energy game, which is fun to watch and play.

Wheelchair rugby at the Paralympic Games

Wheelchair rugby was first introduced to the Paralympic Games in 1996 in Atlanta, but this was only as an exhibition sport. The first medal competition was held at the Sydney games in 2000.

Who can play wheelchair rugby?

Wheelchair rugby can be played by both men and women with upper and lower limb disabilities. The disabled sport is open to people of all ages and abilities and there is an increasingly large number of clubs and teams forming in the UK every year.

How can I get involved?

The number of clubs and teams is increasing in the UK but not every town has a club yet; if you want to find out about teams in your area or you want to find out more about the sport, you can contact Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby Limited or look for details of local facilities and teams using an online search engine.

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Disabled football

June 19, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Football is the nation’s most popular sport so it is no surprise that disabled football is one of the fastest-growing disabled sports.

5-a-side football

5-a-side football is played by visually impaired and blind athletes and involves a special ball that produces noise. The 5-a-side game was first included in the Paralympic Games in Athens in 2004. The team is comprised of 4 blind contestants and one visually impaired goalkeeper, there are no sidelines and subsequently no throw-ins, so the game is continuous and fast-paced. All the players wear eye masks, to ensure that they are equal. The game lasts for 25 minutes each half, with a ten minute half-time break. The players are guided by the sound of the ball and there are also guides behind the goals, who help players to direct their shots.

7-a-side football

7-a-side football has been around for longer than the 5-a-side game – the sport was first introduced to the Paralympic games programme back in 1984. The 7-a-side game is played by players with cerebral palsy, where the teams are made up of athletes with varying levels of disability. The rules of the game are different to traditional football; the pitch is smaller, there are only 7 players on each team and there is no offside rule. The games last for 30 minutes per half, with a break for half-time. Like traditional football, disabled football is a fast-paced, exciting and fun sport to play and watch.

Getting started

There are many local clubs and teams across the country. To find a local team or find out more about playing either 5-a-side or 7-a-side football, you can contact the Football Association or consult the Disability Football Club Directory. Disabled football is a very accessible sport, and can be played by men and women, as well as children.

In 2001 the FA produced a Football Development Strategy to promote football for all. The organisation, in conjunction with the government, was keen to promote inclusive sport and encourage as many people as possible to get involved in football. In 2004 the FA launched the Disability Football Strategy, the first major step towards integrating disabled football into mainstream football. Work has continued and more people are getting involved in disabled football than ever before.

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Wheelchair basketball

May 24, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Wheelchair basketball is one of the most popular disabled sports. In recent years, the number of people participating and competing in the sport has increased significantly and there are now 65 teams competing in the National Wheelchair Basketball League, as well as a huge number of local amateur clubs and teams.

Wheelchair basketball is one of the blue ribbon Paralympic sports and elite athletes can compete in both the Paralympic Games and the Paralympic World Cup.

Who can play wheelchair basketball?

Wheelchair basketball is suitable for people with a range of disabilities, including:

  • Spina bifida
  • Paraplegics
  • Amputees
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Brittle bones

Wheelchair basketball is an accessible sport and the Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association is keen to promote the sport and encourage everyone who can play the sport to get involved. Wheelchair is accessible to people of all ages and there are leagues for men, women and juniors. Many leisure centres offer sessions for people of all ages and abilities and competitions take place up and down the country.

History of wheelchair basketball

Wheelchair basketball has been around for many years. Initially, it was introduced as a rehabilitation and therapeutic activity for people with spinal problems and injuries, but it quickly became a popular recreational activity and has progressed into a competitive sport. Wheelchair basketball was first played in the USA by basketball players who were injured during the 2nd World War and could no longer play the traditional form of the sport. In 1955, wheelchair basketball came to England and it has since become popular in many countries across the world.

Recently, wheelchair basketball has been included in the government’s Change 4 Life programme, which is designed to promote healthy living. The programme is targeting both children and adults and encouraging people to eat a healthy and balanced diet and participate in regular exercise.

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Wheelchair tennis

April 2, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Wheelchair tennis was first played in 1976 by Brad Parks, an elite skier who suffered a horrific injury that left him in a wheelchair. As a keen athlete, Parks was eager to continue playing sports and realised that tennis had great potential as soon as he first hit a ball from his wheelchair back in the 1970’s.  Parks was helped by Jeff Minnenbraker, a wheelchair athlete from Los Angeles, and the pair quickly set about designing a chair suitable for wheelchair tennis and promoting the sport on the West coast of America.

Wheelchair tennis quickly became a very popular sport and is still amongst the fastest growing disabled sports in the world.

How is wheelchair tennis different to traditional tennis?

The rules of wheelchair tennis are exactly the same as traditional tennis with the exception of one rule – the ball is allowed to bounce twice, rather than once. The rules of wheelchair tennis have been endorsed by the International Tennis Federation. The second bounce of the ball can either be inside or outside the court markings.

Wheelchair tennis competitions

The pinnacle of the wheelchair tennis competition circuit is the Paralympic Games, which takes place every four years. The sport was first included in the games in Barcelona in 1992. The quad division, which was introduced for athletes who have three or four limbs affected by disability, was first included in Athens in 2004.

There are six competitions in the Paralympic Games, which include:

  • Men’s singles
  • Women’s singles
  • Men’s doubles
  • Women’s doubles
  • Quad singles
  • Quad doubles

Aside from the Paralympic Games, there are also many competitions on the wheelchair tennis circuit. There are currently more than 120 tournaments on the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour, which are held in locations across the world.

Getting started

Wheelchair tennis is one of the fastest-growing disabled sports and an increasing number of facilities are offering lessons and coaching sessions. The British Tennis Foundation also hosts weekend camps across the country and many facilities now offer wheelchair tennis programmes. If you want to find out more about facilities and opportunities in your local area then you can contact the British Tennis Foundation.

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