International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity set to feature Special Olympics athletes and programmes
Special Olympics Ireland will have a prominent presence at the International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity 2025 contributing to several different elements of the programme.
Tuesday 17th will feature Youth Pathways and Impact Lead Dr. Hayley Kavanagh presenting 'Building Physical Literacy: The PLAYshop Approach for parents of children”. This presentation focuses on insights and practices developed through the pioneering Young Athletes programme.
Sargent Shriver Global Messenger and Special Olympics Ireland athlete Margaret Turley will have a major role. On Wednesday, she will present as part of a practical workshop titled 'Engaging Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities in Inclusive Research: Practical Strategies’. She will make a speech and sign a Memorandum of Understanding between IFAPA (International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity) and Special Olympics International.
Thursday 19th will be another action-packed day, as Health and Wellbeing Coordinator Dr. Kathy Fulcher and Margaret Turley representing the SO Health Messenger team and Claire Flynn from Mental Health Ireland, will present on Special Olympics Mental Health Resource Co-Creation.
They’ll share information and insights on our innovative mental wellbeing programme Strong Minds Happier Lives, developed through a collaboration between Special Olympics, Mental Health Ireland and our Health Messengers.
Meanwhile, Dr. Hayley Kavanagh will present 'Move to Improve: An 8-week, coach-led fundamental movement skill intervention'. This coach-led intervention is one element of the ground-breaking work that has impacted over 1000 Young athletes to date - read more about this initiative here.
On Friday 20th, RDO Sport Shaun Hennessy, Senior Manager for Motor Activities with Special Olympics International Dr. Niamh Mourton, and a group of coaches will join athletes involved in the Athlete Leadership, Fitness Captains and Health Messenger programmes in a new Motor Activity Training Programme (MATP) showcasing the Erasmus+ project for Motor Activities.
Attendees will learn the adapted skills through a workshop and practical session followed by a “come and try” event for MATP athletes from local schools in the afternoon.
A group of athletes from the Kerry Stars club will be the first Athlete Leaders to go through the new training.
