Sports as a Means to Foster Inclusion and Well-Being of People with Disabilities
Goli Hashemi, International Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation, University of Toronto, Canada

Sport is a cultural phenomenon and an integral part of society. Participation in sport and recreation is considered vital for socio-cultural integration and equity. This exhibit will present an overview of the evidence related to the benefits of sports and physical activity for people with disabilities (PWD) based on a comprehensive review of the literature. Recommendations are made to address identified gaps in the area of sport and disability and to facilitate the safe use of sports and physical activity in increasing health, well-being, and inclusion of PWD.

The European Movement toward Inclusive Physical Activity for Children and Youngsters with Disabilities
Herman Van Coppenolle, Erasmus Program, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

In this project, a group of representatives from 17 European countries strived towards a common goal – to
endorse the full inclusion and participation of children and youngsters with a disability into sport, leisure, and physical activity. They created an educational kit and promotional CD-ROM called “Count Me In” to endorse the full inclusion and participation of children and youngsters with a disability into sport, leisure and physical activity. The user can find the basic information on the concepts of Adapted Physical Activity (APA) and inclusion. As an additional motivational tool, a series of examples of good practice are illustrated in the final chapter. These examples are also illustrated in the accompanying DVD. Secondly, a promotional CD-ROM was created to stimulate children with a disability to take part in physical activity. The CD-ROM consists of eight movie compilations in which a wide range of activities is presented. In each movie, children with all different levels of abilities are presented. The CD-ROM can be explored in 16 different languages.

Leveling the Playing Field: Assistive Technology Solutions, from Low Tech to High Tech, so All Can Participate
Marcie Roth, Executive Director and CEO, National Spinal Cord Injury

This exhibit will showcase examples of assistive technology designed to facilitate participation in sport, recreation and cultural activities. Examples will span from simple to sophisticated, with a common theme of achieving meaningful participation for people with functional limitations that would otherwise exclude them from their preferred sport, recreation, or cultural activities. Resources for locating assistive technology and creative problemsolving examples from low tech to high tech will also be shared.

Horseback Riding as Therapy, Sport, and Leisure for Persons with Disabilities:
Good and Bad Practices
Miguel A. Verdugo, INICO, University of Salamanca, Spain

If safety measures, professionals’ training, and praxis are appropriate, horseback riding does not imply for persons with disabilities more risk than other adapted sports. In this way, horseback riding as a sport and leisure activity becomes much more accessible for persons with disabilities or special needs, as well as an excellent support therapy or activity for other types of treatments (i.e., physiotherapy, psychotherapy, behavior modification, pedagogy, etc.). This exhibit will inform participants about the good and bad practices in horseback riding as therapy or sport for persons with disabilities. This includes the ways in which equine-assisted therapy andactivities must be developed according to the objectives of other treatments provided currently to the rider. It will include some horseback riding session examples, and describe the good practices necessary to guarantee a gratifying, safe, and beneficial experience for the handicapped rider.

Nike and Athletes with Disabilities, United States
Sarah Reinertsen, Nike Athlete

This exhibit will present Nike’s efforts and activities to promote and include athletes with disabilities. The exhibit will address Nike’s Let Me Play campaign as well as other initiatives of Nike featuring athletes with disabilities. The exhibit will highlight Sarah Reinertsen’s role as a Nike athlete.

Sport in Post-Disaster Intervention, Germany
Vincent Chew, International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE)

ICSSPE hosted its first international training seminar on Sport in Post-Disaster Intervention in November 2007. This seminar was the first of its kind, bringing together experts from diverse fields covering many professional disciplines including disaster management, sport and physical education, development, social work, and psychology. Many organizations provide training in disaster preparedness and response; however, this is the first initiative to train professionals in the implementation of sport and physical activity programs in the postdisaster setting. This initiative has grown from recent research and program development that builds on the current international focus on the use of sport for development and peace and is expanding the scope of sport and physical activity specifically to building individual and community capacities following natural and man-made disasters. To supplement the theoretical and practical information presented during the workshop sessions, a handbook on Sport and Physical Activity in Post-Disaster Intervention was also provided to participants to use as a reference guide in the field. ICSSPE plans to host its second international training seminar on Sport in Post-Disaster Intervention in November 2008.

The Garden of Senses: A 3.5-hectare park with Historical XV Palace, Fully-Adopted for People with Different Kinds of Disabilities, Poland
Jolanta Budny, President, BBS DESIGN, Pomeranian Science and Technology Park

Jolanta Budny is a European expert in the accessibility field, involved in many research activities and projects on the adaptation of environment for people with a wide range of disabilities. She is a director representing Poland in the European Institute for Design and Disability, a member of the Steering Committee “Warsaw without Barriers,” and author of “Universal Design,” “Build for All,” and “Design for All” – guides for architects and the building industry in accordance with a user-friendly environment. As a practicing architect, Jolanta creates many unusual designs which can be called “user friendly” or “design without barriers.” In this exhibit, Jolanta will introduce a practical example of one of these designs – the Garden of Senses, a 3.5h park with a historical XV Palace, fully adopted for people with different kind of disabilities. The aim of this design is to promote social inclusion and acceptance of people’s differences, and to show how people with limited abilities perceive our world.