Athlete development pathways

The RBC Training Ground and Paralympic Search programs are designed to build the capacity of the Canadian sport system. This includes addressing gaps and roadblocks on athlete development pathways by creating new on-ramps for those not already engaged, and supporting transfer opportunities for existing exceptional athletes. It also involves building the skills of sport organizations…

Parasport coaching

Coaches matter! Research with female youth parasport program participation revealed coaches can be sources of encouragement and motivation; or negatively affect athletes’ participation if they’re not experienced in parasport skills. The findings reinforce the importance of coach education for quality parasport experiences.

Supporting Podium Dreams – Paralympian Search and RBC Training Ground

To support the identification and development of future Olympians and Paralympians, two Canadian programs have been developed to fuel the Canadian pipeline of future hopefuls. RBC Training Ground and the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s Paralympian Search are athlete identification programs designed to assess participant aptitudes in various sports, and connect athletes with sport opportunities and development…

Community parasport – The experiences of female youth

The upcoming Tokyo Paralympics will be an opportunity to inspire the next generation of Canadian Paralympians. However, without strong development pathways, young Canadians may not have the opportunity to pursue their dreams. An important first step along any development pathway is a positive introduction to sport through grassroots community programs. There is a persisting gap…

Changing attitudes towards people living with a disability

Integrated physical activity programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities not only offer benefits for participants, they can also influence the attitudes and behaviours of others. Learn how the APEX program is impacting support workers, program volunteers, and other members of the University of Windsor community, in the SIRCuit.

Adapting Sport and Physical Activity for Individuals with IDD: Highlighting a Decade of Inclusion and Outcomes

The Adapted Physical Exercise (APEX) Research Group at the University of Windsor leverages the transformative power of sport and physical activity through inclusive, barrier-free programming for adults with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD). In collaboration with Community Living Essex County, APEX delivers volunteer-led, one-on-one fitness training at the University of Windsor’s fitness facility. The purpose of this article is to summarize our key findings and recommendations from…

Parental support of sport participation for youth with a mobility impairment  

View the summary of this research here. Project summary  Parents have an important influence on their children’s sport participation. The objective of this research was to examine parental support for youth with a mobility impairment’s (MI’s; limitations to musculoskeletal or neurological systems which impact movement) sport participation. This objective was accomplished through two studies. Study…

Program Promotion

Do your promotional strategies include the necessary information for athletes experiencing disability to feel safe, welcomed and confident in their participation? Don’t forget accessibility information, local transportation options, specialized equipment available, level of challenge, and coach certification.

Becoming Para Ready

In 2017, 6.2 million Canadians reported having a disability and it was estimated that only 3% of those individuals engaged in regular organized physical activity (Statistics Canada, 2017; Government of Canada, 2012). Of the often-limited opportunities available, individuals experiencing disability may choose to participate through either segregated or integrated programs. Segregated sport programs are typically…

National Accessibility Week 2020

It’s National Accessibility Week! Engaging athletes with a disability is about more than access: it is about meaningful activities that provide participants with feelings of belonging, choice, challenge and success. For this reason, researchers from the Canadian Disability Participation Project developed the Blueprint for Building Quality Experiences in Sport for Children, Youth, and Adults with…