ETS for Youth Equality (EYE) aims at creating new educational opportunities and innovative approaches for the personal fulfillment of young people with intellectual disabilities in Europe. EYE will leverage the importance of Education Through Sport (ETS) as a driver for developing innovative educational formats and the creation of new methods connecting education and sport. The target group is young people aged 16-25 affected by intellectual disabilities or impairments and young people who deal with disability issues in their families/communities. According to the EHSIS Eurostat survey (2012) people aged 15 years old and over in the EU-27 affected by disabilities accounted for 70 million, that is 17.6% of the total population. 25.6% of people involved in the survey reported a disability relating to education and training, 38.6% to employment and 60.9% to leisure activities. Eurostat pointed out that the prevalence of disability is higher for people with a lower educational attainment. A 2014 Eurobarometer report shows that having a disability or illness is mainly a reason for not practising sport at all (declared by 20% of those who never exercise or play sport, compared with 11% of those who do so seldom). Also, the report demonstrates that having a disability or illness is the main reason for 13% of the EU population for not practising sports more regularly (Special Eurobarometer 412, Sport and Physical Activity, Report, March 2014, p.56 and p.5 respectively). Meanwhile, research shows a strong connection between participation in organized sports and a wide range of positive outcomes. By participating in sport, individuals with disabilities experience improved social skills, self-confidence, self-determination, and increased independence [Weiss, J., Diamond, T., Demark, J., & Lovald, B. (2003). Involvement in Special Olympics and its relations to self-concept and actual competency in participants with developmental disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 281-305]. The experience of the applicant SOEE as a member of the international Special Olympics network, bears out this assessment and furthers it into the inspiring reason of this project. Special Olympics has developed a program of inclusive sports (Unified Sports) in which people with and without ID train and compete on the same sports teams. Research findings over the foregoing programme have highlighted the critical role played by coaches and volunteers as leaders and role models in promoting its wider goals, namely to encourage the development of friendships and social acceptance of young athletes with intellectual disabilities (Kersh and Siperstein 2007, Norins et al 2007, Dowling et al. 2010). EYE builds on the mentioned experience by proposing an articulate cooperation among partners experienced in the educational use of Sport, with a specific focus on exploring Sports’ dimension as a tool of customized personal and social development for youngsters affected by intellectual disability, but also to challenge the stereotyping and marginalization of young athletes with intellectual disabilities. Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) are one of the most vulnerable populations in the world. Utilizing sport as a medium, young athletes with intellectual disabilities become equals to their peers and as a result, attitudinal changes are witnessed. ETS will be the centrepiece of the project, declined as a tool to foster the inclusion of intellectually disabled youth, their participation in society and in education/training. ETS combines sport practice and non formal education (NFE) with a view to developing soft skills, basic skills and attitudes enhancing the social inclusion and the transversal dimension of employability. ETS is a very effective tool to raise awareness about the importance of equality and of equal opportunities among young people in and through sport. The project will focus on developing sports activities that encourage people with intellectual disabilities to participate as citizens in their communities, in public life, in society and in the development and implementation of European cooperation, while promoting awareness to the public of the value of Special Olympics social inclusion. A key priority is to promote equal opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to participate in sports training and sporting competition and socially inclusive activities. EYE will comply with 4 of the 8 priority areas called for by the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020: education and training, equality, participation and accessibility. The ET2020 Strategy has among its objectives the promotion of equity, social cohesion and active citizenship as well as the improvement of the quality and efficiency of education and training. This is particularly relevant for young people affected by intellectual disabilities, who can find an effective inclusive tool in sport education.
Education Through Sport (ETS) for Youth Equality (EYE) as a methodology aims at creating new educational opportunities and innovative approaches for the personal fulfillment of youth (18-30) with intellectual disabilities (ID) in Europe. The ETS method aims to use sport in an informal way to support both the physical and mental development of young people with and without ID. The method can be used in different settings and are not specific to sport and can be used by non sports organisations (residential centres, schools etc.) who wish to bring sports activities or physical activity to their various groups. . The project was developed and managed by 3 partners - SO Olympics Europe Eurasia Foundation (SOEEF- Lead Partner), Mine Vaganti and the Bulgarian Sports Development Association. Project Objectives The project aimed to create new educational opportunities and innovative approaches for the personal fulfillment of young people with ID in Europe. The key activities of the project were: 1. A report outlining the results of a comprehensive research on the best practices and education methodologies of sport education and ETS involving young people with intellectual disability or impairments, as compared with the existing offer across partnership countries 2. Development of the ETS for Inclusion Training Format based on ETS applicable across sectors and countries for the inclusion of intellectually disabled and impaired young people by means of the Education Through Sport methodology. 3. A short-term joint staff training event for youth workers and sport trainers that took place in December 2019 in Italy. It involved 15 participants totally, 5 from each partner country. They participants were youth workers and sport trainers dealing with intellectually disabled or impaired young people in youth and sport contexts. 4. Development of a manual called “ETS for Inclusion Guide for Youth Workers and Sport Trainers” (Training Guide) which was carried out by the participants from the training event in Italy through testing on coaches and young people with an ID. 5. Development of a web platform complying with high-end standards of accessibility (in particular, accessibility by people affected by disability) and integrating modules of e-learning enhancing the awareness. 6. The development of video tutorials created by youth workers and trainers participating to the project activities. They provide insights and explanations about the ETS methodologies. 7. Multiplier Events were hosted in each country at the end of the project to showcase the Training Guide and to explain the potential possibilities of using the ETS method to sports bodies, disability organisations and other community groups who work with youth with ID. Participants The key participants for this project were as follows. 1. Youth Workers and coaches/sports practitioners - this group participated in the Training Event in Italy and were involved in the compilation of the Training Guide that formed a key part of this project. 2. Youth with an ID - This group were part of the Multiplier Events and also supported the Youth Workers and coaches in providing feedback around the Training Guide through participating in some of the activities described in the Guide. The Key Results from the Project were as follows: 1. Research Report compiled outlining government policy around disability and best practices of sports projects that focused on youth with ID. The report also featured a survey of youth with ID around the provision of sporting activity for them and how participating in sports activities both formal and informal has impacted them. 2. Development of Training Guide in 3 different Languages (English, Bulgarian and Italian) that contained information and practical activities that follow the ETS method which will support the implementation of informal sports activities by Youth Workers and coaches for youth with ID. 3. Hosting of 3 Multiplier Events in Ireland, Bulgaria and Italy which showcased the project results to key stakeholders and practitioners working with youth with ID. 4. Production of resource videos highlighting specific activities for youth with ID that are based on ETS methodology. These videos are available on the project website - https://learnthroughsport.net/eye-videos/ Impact - Impact on the youth workers and coaches saw an improvement in soft skills such as flexibility, teamwork, creativity, self-confidence, tolerance and recognition of the positive value of diversity. - The youth workers and coaches learnt how to include young people with ID in their activities through the various individual games as well as adapting their approach to coaching/person development. -Participants also developed an enhanced awareness of how sporting activity can support the physical and mental development of young people with ID