Location: Sofia, Bulgaria
Organization/specialist implementing the practice: Children’s Football Club “Luvchetata”
Activity managers: Assoc. Prof. Ventsislav Gavrilov, PhD and Dilyana Stoyanova
Objectives of the activity: The aim is to create an inclusive sports environment in which children have the opportunity for quality socialization, acquisition of communication skills and group work, as well as adaptation to the society around them.
Tasks:
- Acquisition of swimming skills, increasing the levels of physical activity and socialization of participants with disabilities;
- Development of social skills, including communication, adaptability, awareness of the environment, verbal skills and expression;
- Providing a real inclusive practice environment for the students from the program of adapted physical activity and sports and the swimming program.
Which quality of life factor the specified program refers to: Inclusion, by including people with disabilities in sports and educational activities.
Target group: Children with intellectual and physical disabilities (cerebral palsy, autism spectrum, Down’s syndrome, general intellectual disability, etc.) at 2 to 43 years.
Description of the program and the methods used: Weekly training and educational sessions are being held for the formation of skills in the field of swimming and social adaptation.
Impact of the program: This practice started 8 years ago with 30 children and youngsters, and currently it numbers over 60 participants. Swimming leads to extremely positive results for both physical and social and emotional skills necessary for the inclusion of the specified target group. The increased communication and social skills, decreased levels of aggression, increased positive emotions and quality of life and increased regular physical activity are visible.
