READY AND ABLE NEWS
Ready & Able Launches in St. Vincent and 
the Grenadines
Participants at the Ready&Able workshop in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“This was our first experience piloting the Ready & Able program outside of Trinidad & Tobago. After piloting in three (3) Special Schools in Trinidad, it was time to take the program to another island to verify feasibility regionally.” Jennifer Wong, Ready & Able Sport Officer (TTASPE)
The workshop in St. Vincent and the Grenadines took place from Monday February 21 to Wednesday February 23, 2010 at the SCSN in Kingstown. It was facilitated by Jennifer Wong, Ready & Able Sport Officer and Kerish Maharaj, Game On Sport Officer, both from TTASPE. There were 17 teachers/teachers aids in attendance from three (3) government special schools in St Vincent & Bequia. Out of the 17 teachers, two (2) were hearing impaired, one (1) was visually impaired and one (1) had Cerebral Palsy. It was very positive to see inclusion in the workshop and with the students. The program will reach out to 87 students with disabilities in St Vincent & the Grenadines. The first two days of the workshop were classroom and practical based with the teachers only. On the third day, 30 students from the school were invited to take part in the practical sessions in the morning.
History is made for Persons with Disabilities in Trinidad & Tobago!!
On Saturday November 21st 2009 history was made for Trinidad & Tobago as the Trinidad & Tobago Paralympic Committee (TTPC) was ratified as an official International Paralympic Committee (IPC) member. This took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at the IPC’s Conference and General Assembly, November 19-22, 2009. The TTPC had two delegates attend this conference, Michael Fraser, President and Jennifer Wong, Technical Advisor.
Formerly known as the Paralympic Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago (PAR.O.T.T.), the TTPC is currently taking major steps to improve the variety and level of sporting opportunities for persons with disabilities in Trinidad & Tobago. Paralympic sport encompasses sporting opportunities from grass roots to elite competition for persons of different abilities, including categories for physical, hearing, visually impaired and most recently, intellectual disabilities as well. Over the past year, the TTPC has worked to align its vision, objectives and constitution with that of the IPC.
As a result of this new membership status, Trinidad and Tobago as a nation now has the ability to enter athletes in IPC sanctioned events including the Paralympic Games. Reflecting on the IPC conference and general assembly in Malaysia, Michael Fraser, TTPC President says, “the impact of the Paralympic movement is a very powerful one that Trinidad & Tobago has yet to see. Over the next couple years we hope to make this a reality!” These developments are only the tip of the iceberg as the TTPC will continue to develop programs with the vision of sending athletes to the Paralympic Games in London 2012 and beyond.
For more information, please contact the Trinidad and Tobago Paralympic Commitee office at 657-128 or via e-mail on ttparalympic@gmail.com
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SPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT
Football Club Southend, a Professional Football League team, took its vision of individual, community and national development to the Southern Regional Indoor Sports Complex in Pleasantville on Friday, September 11, 2009. They hosted a clinic for students of the Lady Hochoy Home South. Anthony Rougier, former national captain, and four members of his team emphasized facets of sport such as teamwork, flexibility, maximum effort, endurance and discipline that would benefit the participants in other areas of their life. Using his life as an example, he inspired them to dream and to work on making their dreams a reality. The clinic was attended by 14 students with different levels of intellectual ability.
The vision of FC Southend is to impact their community and the nation well “beyond sport”. To this end they are embarking on campaigns that are designed to promote personal and community development and protect the environment. Programs focusing on energy conservation through the use of compact fluorescent bulbs, food independence through home-based agriculture, health promotion via programs such as “Kicking AIDS Out” and “Ready & Able” are a few examples. The impact of these programs will be reflected in individuals through improved personal health, quality of life, and better social skills. Within the community, it is hoped that these programs will foster better citizens, stronger families, and healthier social and physical environments.
Attending this Trinidad Bulk Traders Ltd sponsored clinic were Jay Mafukidze of UTT’s Academy of Sports & Leisure and Jennie Wong of Trinidad and Tobago’s Alliance for Sport and Physical Education (TTASPE). These organizations, along with FC Southend, are at the forefront of the Sport for Development movement in Trinidad and Tobago.
FIRST GAME ON ADAPTIVE WORKSHOP FOR TEACHERS
The Game On Youth Sports! program aims to develop children’s fundamental motor skills using four basic principals - Fun, Maximum Participation, Learning and Success. The program has historically been used in mainstream schools but in promoting sport for all children, we have taken a two step approach - the first being to introduce a ‘Children with Disabilities’ module to the workshop delivered to mainstream school teachers. This module focuses on inclusion and education on different types of disabilities.
After piloting the module in St Lucia it was discovered that handfuls of children, particularly with those with learning disabilities are learning in ‘able’ bodied schools. While working towards inclusion it is often challenging for teachers due to large class sizes and limited experience working with children with disabilities.
This module provides a foundation of knowledge and hands on experience to increase the capacity and confidence of the teachers. In the Caribbean it is most common for students with disabilities to attend special schools. The second step we have taken is to provide capacity building sessions through Game On! for special school teachers.
A two-day theory and practical workshop was delivered at the lady Hochoy Home, Gasparillo , by Jennifer Wong, Ready and Able and Kerish Maharaj, Game On Youth Sports (both of TTASPE) and was attended by Special Education teachers from Lady Hochoy, Gasparillo and from Lady Hochoy, Penal.
This workshop sought to give teachers a practical and structured way to adapt physical education activities for children who are differently abled. On day one, teachers were introduced to the methodology of developing fundamental motor skills, using simple games such as “on the river, on the bank’ which is a simple motor-skill based activity that enhances coordination and movement.
The following day saw the teachers learning how to modify and use traditional sports, such as cricket and football, to enhance the sport experience for the children.
The workshop was very successful and teachers commented on how fun the activities were. More workshops are carded although specific dates are yet to be set.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
The Ready and Able program, operated by The Trinidad and Tobago Alliance for Sport and Physical Education (TTASPE), is geared toward providing opportunities for persons with disabilities to become involved in sport and physical education programs.
It utilizes sport as a development tool; fostering healthy active lifestyles for persons with disabilities. More...
Project manager for Ready and Able, Jennifer Wong, works at Cheshire Home – a residence for persons with disabilities – every Friday. She engages residents in various forms of physical activity, from strength training to basketball, with the aim of encouraging residents to become active.
“Many of the residents are in wheel-chairs so I have to come up with fun and creative ways to get them moving. I enjoy seeing the residents have fun while becoming healthier,” said Jennifer when we visited the home last Friday, January 23 rd.
Several young people were also there, students of the San Fernando East Secondary school, assisting Jennifer in her physical activity program for residents of the home.
The students are part of an effort to engage the community in providing support and assistance to the residents of Cheshire. They will be working with the residents twice a week supporting the physical activity program that Jennifer has implemented at the home.
Jennifer will continue to work at Cheshire Home on Friday mornings.