Our authors
About the author: Peter Downs
Founding Director - The Inclusion Club
Peter is Founding Director of The Inclusion Club and Manager of Play by the Rules – a national initiative to promote safe, fair and inclusive sport. Peter has worked for over 25 years in the field of inclusive sport, disability sport and physical activity including 17 years managing the Australian Sports Commission’s Disability Sport Unit. In 2013 Peter was fortunate enough to receive a Churchill Fellowship to study models of best practice in inclusive sport and physical activity.
Peter’s contributions
Baskin
Baskin was invented in Italy by a very creative and forward looking team of people. It’’s a form of basketball that has been built on universal design principles from the ground up. This is a great example of inclusive sport in action. Continue Reading Baskin
The Influence Map
Here we present a concept and approach we don’t think you’d have considered before. Inclusion can depend on how effective partnerships are. The Influence Map is an approach and tool you can use to plot your circles of influence. In particular, it helps you identify your ‘consequential strangers’’—those people that you may not be so aware of but may have a critical influence on the outcome you are trying to achieve. Continue Reading The Influence Map
Models of Inclusion (Part 2)
More acronyms – but more useful models to use! This time we looked at FAMME and FAIRE models. The idea here is that you understand these models and choose what suits you best – but they all achieve similar goals. We see here a detailed explanation of the FAIRE model from Matt LaCortiglia from the Perkins School for the Blind. Continue Reading Models of Inclusion (Part 2)
Models of Inclusion (Part 1)
Another 2 part series, this time looking at different models of inclusion. We had previously considered the TREE framework, but here we look at two more tools of the trade – the STEP model and CHANGEIT. We considered the advantages and disadvantages of these different – but similar – tools. Continue Reading Models of Inclusion (Part 1)
PlayAble
Steffi de Jong is the co-Founder of PlayAble—a remarkable organisation that is making a big difference to the lives of people in Africa. Steffi has turned a passion for using the power of sport for social change into creating PlayAble. Read all about a remarkable social enterprise. Continue Reading PlayAble
Exercise, Sport and Autism (Part 2)
In part 2 of this series, we look more closely at one of the activities that Amanda Durrant has developed – Kick Football. Amanda produced another custom video for this episode – giving it a nice personal touch. Continue Reading Exercise, Sport and Autism (Part 2)
Exercise, Sport and Autism (Part 1)
Here, we take a look at the work of Amanda Durrant from the UK. Amanda has been working for over 20 years teaching gym sports to young people with disability, particularly young people with autism. Amanda’s even written a book on the subject and we take some of her ideas in her book as examples of good inclusive practice. Continue Reading Exercise, Sport and Autism (Part 1)
Growing Your TREE Skills
In part 2 on the TREE Framework we explore, in more detail, the application of the this Framework—more specifically, we see how it applies to adapting and modifying activities for people with an intellectual disability. Continue Reading Growing Your TREE Skills
Introduction to the TREE Framework
The TREE Framework is a simple yet effective model to help people adapt and modify sport and physical activities to make them more inclusive. In this episode you can see a video that explains the basic Framework of TREE and how it can be applied in practical circumstances. Continue Reading Introduction to the TREE Framework
Inclusion in Sport and Recreation Clubs
Here we consider some broad inclusive strategies that all sport and recreation clubs could consider when looking to include more people with disability in what they do. We ask the 6 million dollar question “What does inclusion mean for your club?” Continue Reading Inclusion in Sport and Recreation Clubs
Physical Education Inclusion Checklist
Download your Physical Education Inclusion Checklist in this episode. This is a simple yet effective tool you can use to make your physical education classes more inclusive of young people with disability. Continue Reading Physical Education Inclusion Checklist
Inclusion in Extra-Curricula PE
In this episode we bridge the gap between research and practice by looking closely at the implications for practitioners of a research study into the extent that teachers have tried to include young people with disability in extra-curricula physical education programs in regular schools. Continue Reading Inclusion in Extra-Curricula PE
Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association
Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association have been making a difference in the lives of people with disability for over 30 years. They are a leading Australian organisation that has a deep understanding of inclusion and, in more recent times, been linking disability and sport sector organisations to create more opportunities throughout Queensland. See how they are making a dent in the world. Continue Reading Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association
Adapting Football – Small Sided Games
Small-Sided Games is a version of football that has been developed as a junior development program in Australia and world wide. It is naturally inclusive in many ways. Here, we take a look at Small Sided Games and demonstrate some of the ways you can further modify using the TREE principle. Continue Reading Adapting Football – Small Sided Games
Using Video for Training
Video is a powerful and effective tool for training for many different aspects of inclusion. In this very popular episode we consider how video can be used as a training tool and take a look at several videos and how they can be deployed for training purposes. Continue Reading Using Video for Training
Adapt and modify 101 – Softball example
In this episode we take a look at adapting and modifying a softball activity so that everybody can be included. We use a simple model of adaptation and analyse four video sequences so that you can follow the thinking and make your own notes in a worksheet. Continue Reading Adapt and modify 101 – Softball example
CARA Adapted Physical Activity Centre
Here, we profile the fabulous work of the CARA Adapted Physical Activity Centre in Ireland. They are a world leading group of practitioners that are really making an impact, not just in Ireland, but across the world. Learn how they go about their business. Continue Reading CARA Adapted Physical Activity Centre