Special Olympics Australia
Improving Physical Literacy for PWID

Friday 29 April 2022

In order to help combat the global physical inactivity crisis, Special Olympics Australia has today launched a new online course to improve physical literacy for people with intellectual disabilities (ID) and autism.

The ground-breaking course - Physical Literacy for People with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism - is hosted on Special Olympics Australia’s Inclusive Sport Academy. The course will help build the sport and disability sector’s knowledge base about physical literacy and inspire students of the Academy to make a difference in the lives of people with ID and autism.

The new course is available to the nearly 6,000 students within the Inclusive Sport Academy, which provides a tailored, user-friendly learning experience for people with ID, teachers, coaches, tertiary students, and allied health professionals. Registration to the Inclusive Sport Academy is open to the public and free.

Yvonne Snell, General Manager – Participation and Programs at Special Olympics Australia, said “Physical literacy is the key to unlocking a healthier, happier life, and goes to the very core of our mission at Special Olympics. Course participants from the sport, education, and health industries will better understand the impact that sport and physical activity can make in the quality of life for people with ID and autism.

“The course will take students through a journey of discovering the theoretical elements of physical literacy, along with established coaching principles which can be applied, and a range of practical resources to amplify the physical literacy of people they work with.

“Using the knowledge from Physical Literacy for People with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism, students such as coaches and teaches will be able to transform their everyday practice to design and deliver programs which enhance the physical literacy of their participants. Students of the course will understand what physical literacy is, why it’s important, and how to inspire a lifelong journey of learning through sport and physical activity.

“This resource and the learning experience within the Inclusive Sport Academy is fun, purposeful and puts students in a position to confidently apply their knowledge and skills in their field. Physical literacy is the key to building the competence and confidence for participation in sport and physical activity, and we’re proud to be leading this education to change the future for people with ID and autism,” Yvonne Snell concluded.

Access Inclusive Sport Academy via: https://inclusivesportacademy.com.au/