GymABLE workshop wrap up - Cerebral Palsy & Down Syndrome

As part of the 2021 European Week of Sport celebrations, Gymnastics Ireland hosted the new GymABLE online workshop “Cerebral Palsy & Down Syndrome” on Saturday, which focused on giving coaches more in-depth information on common disabilities and their management in the gym. Hosted by Disability Education Tutor, Hazel Coates, this workshop is part of our focus on grassroots inclusive gymnastics.

“Our coaches play a crucial role in the successful delivery of our club grassroots disability gymnastics programs and therefore coach education is central to sustaining and improving the quality of disability gymnastics provision. Gymnastics Ireland continues to invest in our coaches by developing and delivering a wide range of coach education opportunities. We have a fast-growing network of very experienced, motivated & amazing coaches and we are particularly delighted to see so many new, young coaches getting involved in disability gymnastics” said Aimi Baker, Gymnastics Ireland Participation Manger.

"At gymnastics Ireland we want to open the sport to everyone, regardless of ability. Through coach education we can make this a reality." added Hazel Coates, a chartered physiotherapist and a gymnastics coach who has worked with people with disabilities since 1982 and is currently Gymnastics Ireland Disability Education Tutor for our GymABLE programme.

GymABLE is an inclusive programme targeted at providing gymnastics opportunities for people with disabilities. If your club is interested in taking part or knowing more, click the link below...

Gymnastics clubs have also been encouraged to become fully inclusive by signing up for the ‘Sport Inclusion Disability Charter’, an initiative lead by CARA Centre which outlines the five key areas people with disabilities are asking all organisations to consider in making active and healthy lifestyles possible for them.

Join our CARA Charter Challenge during this European Week of Sport and sign your club up by clicking here https://caracentre.ie/sport-inclusion-disability-charter/

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