CDSS Training Trinidad and Tobago

Overview Athlete Pathways Disability Sport Structures Trends and Insights Global trends

Personal History Recreational sport Organized sport Interscholastic sport Collegiate sport Paralympic Games – ’84, ‘88, ‘92 Sport Governance & Leadership

Athlete Pathways PE and APE Youth Sport Community-based programs High School – Track and Field, Swimming, etc. Disability Sport Organizations and NSO’s Collegiate pathway Wheelchair basketball, Track and Field, Swimming National Team World championships Paralympic Team

Disability Sport Structure Local disability sport clubs and programs National disability sport organizations National sport federations National Paralympic Committee International federations International Paralympic Committee

Trends and Insights Increased awareness of Paralympic sport Increased investment in sport & athletes Health promotion efforts Laws, treaties, regulations, and guidelines Youth sports options School-based sports

Global Trends and Insights IOC/IPC Relationship Marketing, branding, brand protection, visibility Globalization Technology – IPC policy on sports equipment Human Rights UN CRPD UN Office on Sport for Development and Peace

Olympic & Paralympic Games alignment: IPC / IOC Relationship Olympic & Paralympic Games alignment: IPC/IOC joint marketing agreement Bidding for the Games Organizing the Games IPC President is IOC Member

Technology

UN Office on Sport for Development and Peace Sport and Child & Youth Development Sport and Peace Sport and Gender Sport and Development Sport and Persons with Disabilities in one of the 5 Thematic Working Groups of the Sport for Development and Peace International Working Group (SDP IWG). The three strategic priority areas: • Independence and Sport Participation • Using Sport to Empower Persons with Disabilities • Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities within Sport

T&T Paralympic Sport Development Sport programs represented Commitments we are making Communication & Collaboration (ongoing) Planning and goal setting Measureable objectives Next steps

Final Thoughts Paralympic sport programs are: Game changers Enriching for all students Illustrative of a values system Producing high achieving citizens and future leaders

QUESTIONS?

Washington DC & Atlanta, GA Contact Information BlazeSports America Washington DC & Atlanta, GA www.blazesports.org 404-270-2000 Ann Cody: acody@blazesports.org Dan Humphreys: dhumphreys@blazesports.org

www.blazesports.org

Sport History History of Disability Sport: Paralympic sport- World War II Sports clubs emerged from veteran‘s hospitals sustained by the large number of war casualties. Informal competitions led to international competitions and ultimately the Paralympic Games. 1952 – First International Games held at Stoke Mandeville, England 1960 – Birth of the Paralympic Games in Rome

Sport History History of Disability Sport: Deaflympics – International Committee of Sports for the Deaf established in 1924 Special Olympics World Games - Special Olympics International established in 1968 Sport for people who are blind or visually impaired – dates back to late 1800’s. History of Collegiate Disability Sports: 1948 – Collegiate sports programs for students with disabilities. 1970 – Collegiate conference for men’s wheelchair basketball. 1977 – Collegiate championships in wheelchair basketball.

International Paralympic Committee Global governing body of the Paralympic Movement Serves as the International Federation (IF) Oversees Paralympic Summer and Winter Games Coordinates World Championships

International Paralympic Committee Global Development 170 National Paralympic Committees (NPC) 5 Regional Organizations 4 Disability Specific International Sports Federations (IOSD) 25 Sports on the Paralympic Program

IPC General Assembly Structure International Sports Federations (IFS) IOSD* IPC Sports** National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) International Organizations of Sports for the Disabled (IOSD) Regional Organizations (ROs) IPC Regions* Athletes’ Council IOSDs’ Council Regions’ Council Sports’ Council Classification Committee Athletes with High Support Committee Education Committee Paralympic Games Committee Sports Science Committee Anti-Doping Committee Standing Committees Audit and Finance Committee Development Committee Legal and Ethics Committee Medical Committee Women in Sport Committee Sport Technical Committees Management Team Governing Board Councils *Speaking and Voting Rights ** Speaking Rights

U.S. Paralympics Organizational Structure Steve Whisnant Managing Director, Paralympic Outreach Programs Scott Blackmum Chief Executive Officer Charlie Huebner Chief of Paralympics Larry Probst Chair, Board of Directors James Benson Chair, Paralympic Advisory Committee (PAC) Ann Cody Co-chair, PAC Mike Mushett Director Community and Veterans Programs Julie O’Neill Director Sport Performance Roger Neppl Director Military Programs Jeannine Hansen Director Public Relations

Paralympic Sports Wheelchair Rugby Swimming Wheelchair Tennis Track & field Wheelchair Basketball Football/Soccer Sailing Triathlon Rowing Goalball Sitting Volleyball Canoe Wheelchair Rugby Wheelchair Tennis Ice Sledge Hockey Cycling Boccia Alpine Skiing Cross Country Skiing Biathlon Archery - The benefits of good health are obvious. If you feel better, you look better. You’re more open to life and you can enjoy whatever comes your way. Good health lets you learn, work, and play— whether or not you have a disability. With good health, people with disabilities can work, learn, and be active in all areas of life. - One of the key strategies for being healthy is leading a healthy lifestyle such as participation in sport and physical activity, - Sport and physical activity have numerous benefits on the health and quality of life of people with physical disability. Other important points People with disabilities are twice as likely to be physically inactive as people without disabilities People with disability are more likely to be obese than those without a disability In 2005, the Surgeon General released a Call to Action to Improve the Health and Wellness of Persons with Disabilities. In this report, the Surgeon General noted that “People with disabilities need health care and health programs for the same reasons anyone else does—to stay well, active, and a part of the community. The Bottom Line: Having a disability does not mean you can’t be healthy. Being healthy means the same thing for all of us—getting and staying well so we can lead full, active lives. 23

Legacy of the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games National nonprofit organization US Agency for International Development recognized NGO and PVO United States Olympic Committee - Multi-Sport Organizations Council

BlazeSports Divisions BlazeSports Georgia – Direct service programs, clinics, camps, equipment loan, competitions, and technical assistance. Education – Training, certification, and technical assistance for recreation and education professionals, coaches, and volunteers. Policy – Local, state, and national policy, systems, and environmental change initiatives, and national partnerships. International – Sport development, diplomacy, and human rights initiatives.

BlazeSports Resources: Phone & e-mail technical assistance Communities Athletes, parents, service providers, others Web-based Resources – www.blazesports.org Annual Conference Certified Disability Sport Specialist (CDSS) Regional trainings Webinars

Certified Disability Sport Specialist (CDSS) The Need… Skilled and trustworthy volunteers and coaches The Solution… Credential to certify knowledge and ability to deliver safe programming that meets with standards of best practice The Result… Higher degree of professionalism among direct service providers at all levels