Congratulations! You’re taking a great step to supporting inclusive sport opportunities for a wide variety of athletes and participants.

Created in collaboration with experts people with extensive experience working in disability sport, this detailed manual is intended for:  

  • Coaches who want to foster inclusive sport settings for all sport participants.  

  • Coaches who are new to working with participants with disabilities.  

  • Coaches already working with participants with disabilities who are seeking professional development and tools to enhance their learning.  

  

Regardless of where you are in your coaching journey and who you coach, we hope this resource will be a helpful tool. The skills required to coach athletes with disabilities, such as a heightened awareness of individual athlete needs or increased creativity, will improve coaching effectiveness in any setting.  

 

"Look at coaching athletes with a disability not only as providing an opportunity for them to get involved in something that may become a life-long passion, but also as an opportunity for you as a coach to enhance your coaching abilities and knowledge of your sport." 

- Chris Bourne, World Champion Parasport athlete; Parasport coach instructor  

  

This resource will help build your knowledge, confidence, and competence to support athletes of all abilities. It will help you achieve the following objectives:   

  • Understand language considerations in disability sport  

  • Reflect on several social models of disability and consider their potential impact on an athlete or coach’s sport experiences  

  • Explain how quality, inclusive programming benefits all participants, and is a right for participants with disabilities   

  • Reflect on ways to listen to and learn from each athlete’s unique goals and needs.  

  • Consider the value of and common barriers to participation for coaches and athletes  

  • Identify strategies to address physical, attitudinal, organizational, informational, and technological barriers to accessibility  

  • Identify dedicated programming for people with disabilities  

  • Expand your understanding of a variety of disabilities to communicate respectfully and create safe, welcoming environments  

  • Learn where to go for additional resources and support