Start Date
16-6-2025 10:00 AM
End Date
16-6-2025 11:30 AM
Abstract
The Anne Sullivan Foundation is the only organisation in Ireland that solely supports people of all ages with any degree of deafblindness. Based in Dublin with national Outreach services, our team are always striving to ensure accessibility and inclusivity for the deafblind community. Within the conference theme of “Creating new opportunities to thrive,” we will give examples of how our clients access various physical activities and participate in competitive sports, both locally and globally.
This practical workshop will give attendees an overview of the barriers that people who are deafblind face when choosing to partake in physical activities for leisure, fitness or mental health. Factors such as: communication, independence, cost, transportation, and availability will impact their ability to participate in activities that support their overall well-being.
The main part of the session will look at specific sports and physical activities that our clients take part in successfully. Participants will hear directly from our deafblind clients (in-person and through video) about their strategies for accessing these activities. They will share their experiences and give attendees an insight into how they have created opportunities to thrive.
Attendees will have an opportunity at the end for Q&A with the ASF Outreach team and guest speakers from the deafblind community. People will leave with increased knowledge of the challenges for participation in physical activity and gain confidence in the strategies to adapt activities for people who are deafblind.
Recommended Citation
Leech, Deirdre J. and Nallen, Sorcha, "Practical Strategies for Children and Adults who are Deafblind to Access Physical Activities" (2025). International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness. 14.
https://sword.mtu.ie/isapa/2025/day1/14
Practical Strategies for Children and Adults who are Deafblind to Access Physical Activities
The Anne Sullivan Foundation is the only organisation in Ireland that solely supports people of all ages with any degree of deafblindness. Based in Dublin with national Outreach services, our team are always striving to ensure accessibility and inclusivity for the deafblind community. Within the conference theme of “Creating new opportunities to thrive,” we will give examples of how our clients access various physical activities and participate in competitive sports, both locally and globally.
This practical workshop will give attendees an overview of the barriers that people who are deafblind face when choosing to partake in physical activities for leisure, fitness or mental health. Factors such as: communication, independence, cost, transportation, and availability will impact their ability to participate in activities that support their overall well-being.
The main part of the session will look at specific sports and physical activities that our clients take part in successfully. Participants will hear directly from our deafblind clients (in-person and through video) about their strategies for accessing these activities. They will share their experiences and give attendees an insight into how they have created opportunities to thrive.
Attendees will have an opportunity at the end for Q&A with the ASF Outreach team and guest speakers from the deafblind community. People will leave with increased knowledge of the challenges for participation in physical activity and gain confidence in the strategies to adapt activities for people who are deafblind.