Training and resources for sports professionals working with disabled people
Sense’s training was really informative and engaging, especially the opportunity to hear from an expert coach already delivering activities to people with complex disabilities.
Sports Coach, Loughborough
People with complex disabilities are amongst the least active in society.
- 41% of disabled people are inactive – that’s twice the percentage of non-disabled people.
- 51% of people with three or more impairments are inactive.
- People with complex disabilities are five times more likely to describe their health as bad, compared to the general population.
Sense Active have a range of training, resources and support available to help those in the Sport and Physical Activity sector offer accessible opportunities for people with complex disabilities.
In-person and online training
Complex disabilities in sport
A 3-hour practical and theory-based workshop for sport and physical activity coaches and instructors, covering how to:
- Approach coaching people with complex disabilities
- Communicate and engage people with complex disabilities
- Plan, deliver, and evaluate activities for people with complex disabilities
Sensory sport
2.5-hour workshops covering how to plan and deliver traditional sports to people with complex disabilities, ensuring they are meaningful, appropriate, and work towards participants’ desired outcomes.
- Sports include Football, Tennis, Rounders, Badminton and Snooker
- Accompanying resources and ongoing support also available
Sensory walks
A 2-hour workshop covering how to plan accessible walks for people with complex disabilities, with top tips on how to lead an engaging walk which uses the senses to create a sensory experience.
- Accompanying resource and ongoing support also available
Further support
Community of Practice
Regular meetings bringing together those who deliver, or want to deliver, sport and physical activity to people with complex disabilities. An opportunity to discuss challenges and share best practice, as well as hearing from expert guest-speakers.
Peer-to-peer mentoring
Sense Active can match you with other sport and physical activity coaches and professionals, allowing you to meet virtually or in-person to share guidance and ideas around delivering to people with complex disabilities – as often as suits you.
Resources
Communication guidance
Guidance on how to communicate with and engage participants with complex disabilities, when delivering activities.
How to Engage People with Complex Disabilities in Sport
Activity-specific guidance
Tools to help you deliver specific activities, ensuring they are suitable for people with complex disabilities.
- Sensory football
- Sensory tennis
- Sensory badminton
- Sensory rounders
- Sensory snooker
- Sensory Exercises poster
- Making sense of yoga resource
- Making walks sensory resource
- Making sense of mini games resource
Tools to support a person-centred approach
A blank template which can be used to collect information about the people you are delivering activities to, helping to ensure you meet their needs: Participant profile blank template (PDF)
A useful guide on how to plan activities to ensure participants have a meaningful and appropriate experience
A useful guide on how to engage support workers to help support your delivery