Inclusive Planning

The acronym CHANGE IT provides a tool that can be used to help modify the activity to meet the individual needs of the participant:

C - Coaching style — e.g. demonstrations, or use of questions
H - How to score or win
A - Area — e.g. size, shape or surface of the playing environment
N - Number of participants involved in the activity
G - Game rules — e.g. number of bounces or passes
E - Equipment — e.g. softer or larger balls, or lighter, smaller bats/racquets
 I - Inclusion — e.g. everyone has to touch the ball before the team can score
T - Time — e.g. ‘How many … in 30 seconds?’

When preparing a coaching program, examine what, if anything, needs to be adapted or modified. In other words, what or how the player can:

• see (predominantly relevant to participants with vision impairment)
• hear (predominantly relevant to participants who are deaf or hearing impaired)
• move (predominantly relevant to participants with a physical disability)
• learn, recall or reproduce skills (predominantly relevant to participants with an intellectual disability)
• perform tasks and activities (relevant to all participants).

There are very few disabilities or medical conditions that completely preclude participation in sport. People with disability take part in sport and physical activity for the same reasons as other people; to improve fitness, develop new skills, increase social contacts, and to have the chance to achieve and receive recognition.