Sports and physical activities, usually in the context of teaching in a mainstream or special school, or as social services or independent clubs. The UK National Curriculum gives teachers flexibility to respond to the needs of pupils with identified special educational needs. They are expected to give children appropriately challenging work at each key stage. Training for teachers in physical education approaches for special needs, and collaborative approaches with physical therapists and learning support staff, are possible.
The Association for Physical Education is the UK professional organisation for physical education and sports teachers, tel:0118 378 6240 www.pea.uk.com.
English Federation of Disability Sport, tel: 0161 247 5294, www.efds.net.
Disability Sports Northern Ireland, tel: 02890 508 255, www.dsni.co.uk.
Scottish Disability Sports, tel: 0131 317 1130, www.scottishdisabilitysport.com
Federation of Disability Sport Wales, tel: 02920 665 781, www.disabilitysportwales.org
CP Sport England and Wales (for people with a disability and especially cerebral palsy), tel: 0115 925 7027, www.cpsport.org
Specific activities:
British Wheelchair Sport, tel: 01296 395995, www.wheelpower.org.uk
Disability Snowsport UK (DSUK), for skiing and snowboarding, tel: 01479 861272, www.disabilitysnowsport.org.uk
Elisabeth Svendsen Trust. Attached to the Donkey Sanctuary at five centres around England. Children with special needs can learn to ride and care for the donkeys, tel: 01395 573009, http://tinyurl.com/2a4vhy.
Riding For The Disabled Association, tel: 024 7669 6510, www.riding-for-disabled.org.uk (Horse riding, sometimes called ‘Hippotherapy’).
Block ME and Obrusnikova I. Inclusion in physical education: a review of the literature from 1995-2005. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly 2007 Apr;24(2):103-24.
Wind WM et al. Sports for the physically challenged child. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2004 Mar-Apr;12(2):126-37. Review.
