PARTNERS ON THE PROJECT
Coordinator:
SPECIAL OLYMPICS SERBIA
Acronym used: SOSRB
Special Olympics Serbia aims to provide consistent sports training and over 100 competitions, including Unified Sports, as a means to contribute to the inclusion of persons with intellectual disabilities in Serbian communities. Mission is to provide year–round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic–type sports for children and adults with an intellectual disability, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
Serbia's Special Olympics began with active work in 2002 and it offers . Our organization's goal is to organize trainings and competitions for people with intellectual disabilities throughout the country throughout the year, thus enabling their athletes to take part in almost all international competitions organized around the world for this population. For nearly 20 years of existence, our athletes have enriched Serbian sport with more than 160 medals, taking part in 5 summer and 4 winter Games, in over 20 different European championships and actively participating in many development projects.
The problem of dealing with young people's sports with intellectual disability is great and our organization strives to address a part of the problem by doing so. Athletes with intellectual disabilities in our organization train by strengthening health, motorcycles, social skills, socializing, learning, traveling around the world enriching their lives with new knowledge and friendships. Thanks to the Special Olympics they have a rich and fulfilled life regardless of their disability.
Work has been started on Inclusive (eng. Unified) sports projects that are of multiple importance for both young people with special needs and those of regular population. The Special Olympics of Serbia is currently successfully conducting training sessions in the Inclusive Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Beach Volleyball and Athletics. This project has multiple implications for all those involved; enables better knowledge of young people with and without special needs and improves the co-operation of special and regular schools through sport.
Since 2007, our organization is the only recognized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports as an Alliance that brings together clubs for people with intellectual disabilities, and since then has been supported by its program activities. This support of Serbia's Special Olympics could not provide its sportsmen participate in all major sports events we have participated in.
www.specijalnaolimpijada.com/
LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN
Acronym used: LMU
As one of Europe’s leading research universities, LMU looks back on 500 years of tradition and forward to the challenges and responsibilities ahead. Its excellence in teaching and research embraces a wide diversity of fields—from the humanities and cultural studies through law, economics and social sciences to medicine and natural sciences. An intense interdisciplinary approach fosters the innovation so critical to our global future. LMU’s faculty—whether they are early career professors or internationally renowned prize-winners—form the foundation of the University’s distinguished record in research. Their expertise, dedication, and creativity underpin the University’s success in the Germany-wide Excellence Initiative, a competition in which LMU has won the largest amount of grant support awarded to a single institution. These resources are being used to enhance our shared pursuit of knowledge, a constantly evolving process. In the actual Times Higher Education (THE) World University Ranking 2014-15, LMU takes was place 29 among 50 best universities in the world. As the „best university in Germany“ LMU occupies the place 6 among the best European Universities: http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2014-15/world-ranking.
LMU is home to students from all parts of Germany and more than 130 countries around the globe. They benefit from the University's uniquely wide array of study programs and its strong focus on research. At all stages of academic training we emphasize the links between research and course content. Our students view their studies as a springboard to a rewarding career, not least because Munich is one of Germany’s major centers for technology and the media.
Department of Special needs education (intellectual disabilities and behavioral difficulties) (www.edu.lmu.de/gvp) is a part of Faculty 11 „Psychology and Pedagogy“ at the Department for Education and Rehabilitation. At the time 600 students are studying at the department for intellectual disabilities and behavioral difficulties. The team of 15 lecturers are lecturing and preparing the students for teaching profession and researching at the Department for prevention-, inclusion- and rehabilitation research in the field of intellectual disabilities, behavioral difficulties and chronic diseases.
As one of the key stakeholders in the promotion of inclusive practice, the LMU is contributing to enhancing provision of sport for people with disabilities at the local, regional and global level as well, through wide-ranging research on sport and social inclusion, in order to promote evidence based policies and well-informed decisions in the field of sport; establishing close cooperation with sport organizations; encouraging training of sports instructors to the principles and good practices of citizenship education, respect for diversity in a multicultural society, awareness of and ways of fighting all forms of gender bias and discrimination, and inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Another important role of the University is the engaging in the public policy process - applying this to the sphere of sport for people with disabilities, public provision can be shaped by academic debate concerning the nature of disability and how best to secure equitable access to disability sport at all levels ensuring that the production and dissemination of knowledge really does inform the nature of provision.
Knowledge on how to appropriately adapt sport and promote inclusion is growing and an increasing number of sports associations and NGOs are doing it effectively. Still the majority of persons with disabilities, especially persons with intellectual difficulties do not have access to sport activities and organizations. There is a need for collecting data on the needs and interests of persons with intellectual difficulties in the field of recreation and sports but also the need for collecting data on the possibilities to participate in sport and appropriate adaptation of sport activities to suit the needs of persons with intellectual difficulties.
it this text and tell your site visitors who you are. To edit, simply click directly on the text and add your own words. Use this text to go into more detail about your company Make sure to include information about how your company came to be. A strong “About” page helps establish credibility and professionalism and lets the visitor know more about you.
www.lmu.de/de/index.html
Acronym used: LMU
As one of Europe’s leading research universities, LMU looks back on 500 years of tradition and forward to the challenges and responsibilities ahead. Its excellence in teaching and research embraces a wide diversity of fields—from the humanities and cultural studies through law, economics and social sciences to medicine and natural sciences. An intense interdisciplinary approach fosters the innovation so critical to our global future. LMU’s faculty—whether they are early career professors or internationally renowned prize-winners—form the foundation of the University’s distinguished record in research. Their expertise, dedication, and creativity underpin the University’s success in the Germany-wide Excellence Initiative, a competition in which LMU has won the largest amount of grant support awarded to a single institution. These resources are being used to enhance our shared pursuit of knowledge, a constantly evolving process. In the actual Times Higher Education (THE) World University Ranking 2014-15, LMU takes was place 29 among 50 best universities in the world. As the „best university in Germany“ LMU occupies the place 6 among the best European Universities: http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2014-15/world-ranking.
LMU is home to students from all parts of Germany and more than 130 countries around the globe. They benefit from the University's uniquely wide array of study programs and its strong focus on research. At all stages of academic training we emphasize the links between research and course content. Our students view their studies as a springboard to a rewarding career, not least because Munich is one of Germany’s major centers for technology and the media.
Department of Special needs education (intellectual disabilities and behavioral difficulties) (www.edu.lmu.de/gvp) is a part of Faculty 11 „Psychology and Pedagogy“ at the Department for Education and Rehabilitation. At the time 600 students are studying at the department for intellectual disabilities and behavioral difficulties. The team of 15 lecturers are lecturing and preparing the students for teaching profession and researching at the Department for prevention-, inclusion- and rehabilitation research in the field of intellectual disabilities, behavioral difficulties and chronic diseases.
As one of the key stakeholders in the promotion of inclusive practice, the LMU is contributing to enhancing provision of sport for people with disabilities at the local, regional and global level as well, through wide-ranging research on sport and social inclusion, in order to promote evidence based policies and well-informed decisions in the field of sport; establishing close cooperation with sport organizations; encouraging training of sports instructors to the principles and good practices of citizenship education, respect for diversity in a multicultural society, awareness of and ways of fighting all forms of gender bias and discrimination, and inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Another important role of the University is the engaging in the public policy process - applying this to the sphere of sport for people with disabilities, public provision can be shaped by academic debate concerning the nature of disability and how best to secure equitable access to disability sport at all levels ensuring that the production and dissemination of knowledge really does inform the nature of provision.
Knowledge on how to appropriately adapt sport and promote inclusion is growing and an increasing number of sports associations and NGOs are doing it effectively. Still the majority of persons with disabilities, especially persons with intellectual difficulties do not have access to sport activities and organizations. There is a need for collecting data on the needs and interests of persons with intellectual difficulties in the field of recreation and sports but also the need for collecting data on the possibilities to participate in sport and appropriate adaptation of sport activities to suit the needs of persons with intellectual difficulties.
it this text and tell your site visitors who you are. To edit, simply click directly on the text and add your own words. Use this text to go into more detail about your company Make sure to include information about how your company came to be. A strong “About” page helps establish credibility and professionalism and lets the visitor know more about you.
www.lmu.de/de/index.html
SPECIAL OLYMPICS BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Acronym used: SOBiH
SPECIAL OLYMPICS BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVNIA was founded in 1999, Mission is to provide year–round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic–type sports for children and adults with an intellectual disability, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. PARTICIPANTS (per the 2015 census): Registered athletes and Unified partners: 4,952 Coaches: 222 Competitions 50. 9 OFFICIAL SPORTS: Alpine Skiing, Aquatics, Athletics, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Football (Soccer), Table Tennis and Volleyball. OTHER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS: Athlete Leadership, Motor Activities Training Program (MATP), Young Athletes. (To date, within the SO BiH are included more than 25 associations such as Clubs of Special Sports, Divisions, Day Centers, Primary and Secondary Schools working with people with ID are currently engaged. About 20,000 persons with ID live in BiH and this movement is convinced that people with ID through sports training and competitions benefit in physical, mental, social and spiritual terms.
www.sobih.org/
SPECIAL OLYMPICS BULGARIA
Acronym used: SOBG
In Bulgaria, Special Olympics has started its programme in 1994. Since its re-birth in 2003, the Special Olympics programme in Bulgaria supports the development of sport among Bulgarians with intellectual disabilities:
- 27 sports (Football, Dodgeball, Athletics, Table Tennis, Tennis, Swimming, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Equestrian, Badminton, Rowing, Kayaking, Sailing, Gymnastics, Judo, Powerlifting, Volleyball, Cycling, Roller Skating, Golf, Aerobics, Wushu, Alpine Skiing, Speed Skating, Golf, Shoeshoing);
- More than 6 000 athletes with intellectual disabilities who train at least 2 hours a week;
- More than 2 200 athletes with intellectual disabilities who have participated in at least once in a competition or a sports event;
- More than 2 200 athletes with intellectual disabilities who have passed a health screening within our Health Athletes program;
- More than 1 000 partners – children and young people without disabilities, who have participated alongside our athletes in 9 Unified sports – Football, Dodgeball, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Rowing, Kayaking, Sailing, Golf;
- Over 350 sports instructors and coaches;
- Over 600 devoted volunteers;
- Over 100 Bulgarian policemen who have taken part in the Law Enforcement Torch Run in over 15 Bulgarian municipalities, in Europe and around the world – Dublin, Rome, Shanghai, Warsaw;
- Over 100 training session held for instructors, coaches, volunteers and parents;
- The program shapes 27 of 29 region throughout the country in almost 90 towns throughout the country;
- Partnering with 26 Resource centers of the Ministry of Education and Science for assistance in integrated education;
- Partnering with all the special schools;
- Partnering with over 80 mainstream schools with integrated students with intellectual disabilities;
- Partnering with 15 residential institutions for adults with intellectual disabilities;
- Active participation in the global programme “Special Olympics Universities” of 3 Bulgarian universities – National Sports Academy “Vasil Levski”, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and Veliko Tarnovo University “St. St. Cyril and Methodius”;
- Over 400 school and local competitions and sports events;
- Over 1700 regional competitions;
- 20 national competitions;
- Successful participation in over 10 international competitions – World Summer Games – New Haven’95, Dublin‘2003, Shanghai‘2007 and Athens‘2011, Los Angelis’2015, AbuDhabi;2019; World Winter Games – Nagano‘2005, Idaho‘2009, PyeongChang‘2013, Austria’2017, European Games in Rome‘2006, Warsaw‘2010 and Antwerp’2014, East-European games in Sarajevo‘2004 and Constantza‘2005;
- Over 120 local, regional and national youth forums, in which pairs delegates of young people with and without disabilities discuss the challenges to social inclusion and civil participation of young people. In 2010, Tanya Kostova (Special Olympics Athlete from Pleven) and Anna Dimitrova (student from the American College in Sofia) were one of the 7 delegates to represent Special Olympics Europe-Eurasia at the World Youth Forum in Idaho;
- Nomination “National Awards Sportman of the Year ” – for 2009, 2010 and 2011;
- More 100 media partners and 16 Bulgaria media have joined to the Access to Sport Declaration to support the mission of Special Olympics
- 80 Bulgarian municipalities have joined the Access to Sport Declaration to support the mission of Special Olympics.
CENTER JANEZA LEVCA LJUBLJANA
Acronym used: CJL
CJL consists of six units: 3 schools with special curriculum, Departments of Education, Student dormitory, Labor and Employment Centre and Specialized mobile pedagogical service. Very active part of the CJL is a Department for project activities. Among the largest international projects of department is the International Year festival “Play With Me”, which is covering over 30 events from various fields (sports, culture etc.) throughout the year. All events are international in nature and seek for the implementation of inclusion, therefore, for the active involvement of children and young people with special needs in the wider society and to demolish stereotypes about persons with disabilities that are present even today. CJL has together in all units over 200 special education teachers and other educators, psychologists, social workers and other technical staff and more than 400 students yearly. The target group of our activities are children and youth with special needs. Centre Janeza Levca Ljubljana is one of the biggest institutions, providing education and schooling for children and youngsters with special needs. Most of them are coming from emigrants, roma, refuge and low socio-economic backgrounds. We enable them to acquire formal education. However, as our experiences have shown, the formal education is more successful if it includes the non-formal aspect. Having this in mind, we have been organizing different training courses, especially for young people, but also for parents, professionals in various fields and for our employees. We also participate in many international projects. As part of the programs “Youth”, 'Youth in Action' and 'Erasmus + we have carried out a number of international activities in last 15 years. More than 50 international cooperation were realized within the center. These we attended together with our children and adolescents as participants (cooperating with partners from almost all Europe.). We also organized and lead in recent years a lot of different projects in youth-educational field: like several different projects in program Comenius, Leonardo da Vinci, Youth Exchange, Training course, Seminar, Job shadowing… Since 2010 we are involved in the international voluntary projects (previous European Voluntary Service). In recent years we have hosted over 20 EVS volunteers, from both programme as well as partner countries. We also organize the International festival “Play with me” which promotes active participation of children and youth with special needs and margin groups in society. As mentioned above we have many non-formal learning activities to complement a formal education. Lots of these are sport or sport related, one of them is swimming program for our students for several years now.
www.centerjanezalevca.si/
UDRUZENJE ZA LJUDSKA PRAVA I SOCIJALNU INKLUZIJU/ASSOCIATION OF HUMANRIGHTS AND SOCIAL INCLUSION SOCI
Acronym used: SocI
Association for Human Rights and Social Inclusion is a non-profit organization of parents and professionals whose mission is to develop and improve the system of support for persons with Intellectual and developmental disabilities with the aim of full social inclusion, in cooperation with local authorities, non-governmental organizations and through education, information and awareness-raising. Our vision is a realization of the full potential of each person. We provide services and unique expertise by highly qualified personnel. Key competencies are experienced and well trained staff, young and flexible team, a well-established cooperation with local, regional and international institutions; partnership with the kindergartens, schools and higher education institution in BiH, governmental and non-governmental institutions and organizations. We have relevant experience in national and international projects. We are struggling for equal opportunity in education and sport, raising awareness of academic community about disability issue, recruitment of volunteers for help etc. We support supports 75 children and youth with intellectual disabilities and their families. We are the first organization to provide early intervention and rehabilitation programs for children with IDD in Tuzla Canton. We are active in various fields both nationally and on European level, we actively seek participation in projects in the arts, sports and best practices that we can use to benefit our clients. We consider our organization to be in the forefront in developing methodologies to further improve the quality of life of our beneficiaries and their families. We are scientific base on Faculty of education and rehabilitation, Department for Intellectual disabilities who academic staff will be actively included in development of intellectual outputs.
THRACE NATURE SPORTS SPECIALTY CLUB ASSOCIATION
Acronym used: TRAKDOSK
Thrace Nature Sports Specialty Club Association (TRAKDOSK) a non-governmental organization was established in Edirne on 25 January 2013 by the people who came together with the aim and mission to protect the nature and to help the residents of the region to continue their lives as healthy individuals.
Within the scope of activities of the club;
• Organizing nature sports activities,
• To organize training courses in various sports branches, to train as athletes and coaches,
• Contributing to the protection of public health by raising public awareness,
• To create awareness about nature and to work for the protection of nature,
• To plan and perform nature sports activities for disabled people,
• It is organized various educational, sports, arts and cultural events in its activity areas in line with its annual plans.
TRAKDOSK has organized outdoor sports (hiking, trekking, mountaineering, camping etc.), underwater sports (diving), cycling and jogging activities for young people and its members. It continues to work as a open to cooperation, the association offers a variety of opportunities to contribute to the social and personal development of young people and their members and to help them develop their professional knowledge and skills. In addition, in order to improve the tourism of the region where the association is located, it educates its members, young people and volunteers in ecology and environment issues and carries out ecological activities.
Within the scope of activities of the club; 1. Organizing activities and organizations in the field of nature sports, 2. Training in various sports and branches, 3. Raising athletes and coaches, 4. Contributing to the protection of public health by raising public awareness, 5. Placing nature consciousness and work towards the protection of nature, 6. Planning and performing activities for disability oriented nature sports, It organizes various educational, sports, arts and cultural events in its activity areas in line with its annual plans. It organizes activities for youngsters in the region such as nature sports (hiking, trekking, mountaineering, camping etc.) and underwater sports (diving), cycling, hiking and jogging. It cooperates with the youngsters in its region in a open-minded manner. The Association offers a variety of opportunities to contribute to the social and personal development of youngsters and help them develop their professional knowledge and skills. It also conducts ecological activities and educates its members, youngsters and volunteers on ecology and environmental issues in order to improve the tourism of the region. It has more than 110 members who are specialists on first aid, search and rescue, occupational health and safety, sports in the nature, athletics. Those specialists carry out special courses fort he youngsters under the responsibility of the Association. National and international certifications are given to youngsters by those experts at the end of the courses. It organizes various cultural and art events such as special concerts, exhibitions and courses for young people and the disabled. In addition, It carries out diving trainings and activities for the disabled people in North Aegean Sea and Black Sea. It is a member of federations and schools which have national and international certifications such as Turkey Mountaineering, Athletic ,Orienteering Federation, and Turkish Underwater Sports Federation and Scuba Schools The Association applies projects from Thrace Development Agency in the national field and to Bulgaria-Turkey IPA programs, Erasmus+ Programme, Black Sea Cross Border Cooperation in order to internationalize itself, help youngsters meet and cultivate with their European peers.
SILLOGOS GONEON KE KIDEMONON ATOMON ME ANAPIRIA TO ERGASTIRI
Acronym used: To Ergastiri
“To Ergastiri” is a non-profit organization that aims to assist in the social integration and general wellbeing of adults with intellectual disabilities. Our activities aim to provide quality services and creating new opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities and their families. As well as psychological support, counselling and social integration, support for development of self-image and identity, training, maintenance of family structure and relationships and social consciousness rising.
Fitness and physical wellbeing is crucial for our “Clients”, and our organization is very active in physical training. We maintain teams in water sports, cycling and basketball, and for the past 40 years, our Organization has been active in providing quality services for people with intellectual disabilities, training to their careers and supporting their families. Through our supported living housing services, athletic training, counselling and social integration, support for development of self-image and identity, training, maintenance of family structure and relationships and social consciousness rising our “Clients” gain important life skills and realize their potential.
“To Ergastiri” offers occupational training and integration of those capable and willing to enter the free labour market. Vocational and art training workshops include bakery department, laundry, weaving, carpet making, pottery, batik printing, music, sports and gardening. Learning basic skills in computer use through interactivity offered by new technologies achieved the development of new motor and cognitive skills.
“To Ergastiri” trains and supports 100 adults with intellectual disabilities and their families
“To Ergastiri” employs 40 permanent members of staff (technical, administrative, health and supportive staff). Continuous training of our staff takes place through international conferences and seminars and transnational projects focusing on new developments in the field of intellectual disabilities and on contemporary education approaches.
“To Ergastiri” is the first organization to provide Supported Housing programs for our clients in Greece. Through our program of activities and positive guidance, residents gain important life skills and reach their full potential. We are active in various fields both nationally and on European level, we actively seek participation in projects in the arts, sports and best practices that we can use to benefit our clients.
We are focused on initiatives on active ageing for disabled people and we consider our organization to be in the forefront in developing methodologies to further improve the quality of life of our beneficiaries and their families.
“To Ergrastiri” is a pioneer in the inclusion of assistive technologies in a supported living environment.
We are focused on initiatives on active ageing for disabled people and we consider our organization to be in the forefront in developing methodologies to further improve the quality of life of our beneficiaries and their families
We hope to further improve our offered services through our participation in this project by and consequently increasing the level of quality of life of our beneficiaries by strategic planning and improve management of activities in sports, together with social inclusion, equal opportunities and awareness of the importance of health-enhancing physical activity, through increased participation in, and equal access to sport for people with intellectual disabilities
knowledge and skills of healthy nutritional for people with intellectual disabilities.
skills to design, create an innovative educational material for the sports trainers and coaches;
- better trained trainers and coaches working with our service users
- increased physical activity of people with intellectual disabilities
- a healthier diet for people with intellectual disabilities
We can bring our skills and expertise: knowledge of theories and concepts related to mentally disabled youth social development and social policy, sports in Greece; strong analytical capacity and ability to identify, analyze and articulate multi-dimensional social development issues and sports for the disabled issues; research and drafting skills, including the ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources using standard methodologies and analytical techniques; ability to draw conclusions and to assess impact on social development and policy issues; ability to take responsibility; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; support and act in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; share credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcoming; leading and creating the teaching schedule/program in an innovative manner and providing solutions and ideas
www.ergastiri.org
SPECIAL OLYMPICS SLOVAKIA
Acronym used: SOSK
Mission of Special Olympics Slovakia is to provide year–round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic–type sports for children and adults with an intellectual disability, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. It was founded in 1990 Participants (per the 2015 census):
Registered athletes and Unified partners: 3,764
Coaches: 275
Competitions: 20
Special Olympics Slovakia has 18 official sports: Alpine Skiing, Aquatics, Athletics, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Bocce, Cross Country Skiing, Cycling, Equestrian, Figure Skating, Floor Hockey, Floorball, Football (Soccer), Gymnastics (Artistic), Gymnastic (Rhythmic), Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball. Other development programs: Athlete Leadership, Motor Activities Training Program (MATP), Young Athletes.
specialolympics.sk/
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