Every person should have the opportunity to develop physical literacy. Program coordinators, leaders, and facility operators have a responsibility to create universally accessible physical literacy opportunities.
This can be a daunting task to figure out how to develop or adapt programs to be inclusive of disabilities. As such, in 2016 through the RBC Learn to Play funding, a series of trainings and a collection of resources has been undertaken to create a portal of information so that there is a place to start to find programs, information, or training to assist in moving to universal accessibility.
The resources and programs listed below have been identified as best practices, and are in no way an exhaustive list but will hopefully provide a starting point for this journey.
Past Inclusive Physical Literacy Webinar
February 2016:
This webinar presents the inclusive physical literacy project, the theoretical frame of inclusive physical literacy, and presentations of good practices across Canada like Défi sportif AlterGo, Canucks Autism Network, Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence, Special Olympics Canada, Canadian Paralympic Committee, and Let’s Play.
May 2017:
This webinar introduces participants to the concept of inclusive physical literacy and how it ties into the definition of physical literacy. It will also explore the facets of offering an inclusive programming, and how organizations need to intentionally plan for this to happen. The webinar will also cover how the organizational structure is key for offering a supportive and welcoming environment for persons with a disability.
Inclusive Physical Literacy Workshop
Inclusive Physical Literacy will help participants to understand the importance of physical literacy development for participants with disabilities. This workshop will take participants through what universally accessible programs are and how to plan and create them. It will also help participants to develop their adaptations to fundamental movement skills to allow for different disability types to participate and have a quality first involvement experience.
To book the Inclusive Physical Literacy workshop, please fill out this form or contact us at workshops@sportforlife.ca.
Active for Life published an article on “Special needs children: 5 ways to help their physical literacy flourish”. Free2BMe provides adapted physical activity programming, an innovative program providing fitness opportunities for special needs children and youth. The key to these successes — and proving assumptions wrong — is removing the words “I can’t” from a family’s vocabulary.
Physical Activity, Active Living, and Sport Resource Catalogue is an online resources for Canadians living with disabilities. This was researched by Canadian Disability Participation Project that provides information and contact info for each disability to gain better knowledge and experience to help people/athletes with disabilities.
Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE Canada) has developed the Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) series that supports the instruction of fundamental movement and sport skills in an effective, fun and interactive manner. The skills are instructed through the use of both print handbooks and an online video collection. The series is designed to enable the development of physical literacy as a foundation for supporting long-term sport and physical activity participation. One of the resource in the series that support inclusive practices is the Active Start and FUNdamentals For Children with Physical Disabilities which is designed for teachers and coaches of youth who have a physical disability (congenital or acquired disability). This resource includes movement patterns for the 12 fundamental motor skills, inclusion tips, specific adaptations, and activities that allow for modifications based on needs.
Canucks Autism Network (CAN) offers adapted physical literacy programs for children and youth living with autism in BC. Our programs are unique in that there is a high ratio of support provided by trained staff. We use a range of support strategies in our programs, including a variety of activity adaptations, visual supports and equipment modifications. We partner with physical literacy specialists (e.g. PISE) and we look forward to learning more about other inclusive programs across the country!
Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE Canada) has developed the Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) series that supports the instruction of fundamental movement and sport skills in an effective, fun and interactive manner. The skills are instructed through the use of both print handbooks and an online video collection. The series is designed to enable the development of physical literacy as a foundation for supporting long-term sport and physical activity participation. One of the resource in the series that support inclusive practices is the Active Start and FUNdamentals For Children with Developmental and/or Behavioural Disabilities is designed for teachers and coaches of youth who have a developmental and/or behavioural disability. This resource includes movement patterns for the 12 fundamental motor skills, inclusion tips, specific adaptations, and activities that allow for modifications based on needs.
Pacific Institute for Sport Education (PISE) has developed a resource called, “I CAN Develop Physical Literacy” which is for anyone in the community working with children on the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) continuum. The resource is intended to serve as a support tool for teachers, coaches and leaders who want to incorporate physical literacy into their programs.
Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE Canada) has developed the Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) series that supports the instruction of fundamental movement and sport skills in an effective, fun and interactive manner. The skills are instructed through the use of both print handbooks and an online video collection. The series is designed to enable the development of physical literacy as a foundation for supporting long-term sport and physical activity participation. One of the resource in the series that support inclusive practices is the Active Start and FUNdamentals For Children with Developmental and/or Behavioural Disabilities is designed for teachers and coaches of youth who have a developmental and/or behavioural disability. This resource includes movement patterns for the 12 fundamental motor skills, inclusion tips, specific adaptations, and activities that allow for modifications based on needs.
Special Olympics Canada is dedicated to enriching the lives of athletes with an intellectual disability through sport. Special Olympics Canada provides sport training and competitive opportunities to over 40,000 athletes supported by over 17,000 volunteer coaches.
Pacific Insititute Sport for Education (PISE) is dedicated to bringing physical literacy to children and youth who may have missed out on key developmental stages of their growth. With the help of the BC Childhood Cancer Parents Association, we are providing this program to help children that have missed these developmental stages for various reasons. This could be because they may have had to make frequent trips to hospital, have been going through treatment such as radio- and chemotherapy or have been bed ridden for frequent periods of their childhood due to their illness. Providing a fun and supportive atmosphere for these children to play and learn with their peers and siblings will enhance their development of physical literacy, but also of many other factors, such as social development.
The program offers the participants the chance to use a Polar Heart Rate monitor so that we are able to safely increase the physical load of the participants while not putting too much stress on their cardiorespiratory system. A common cause of radio and chemotherapy is increased fatigue, and monitoring the participants will allow us to monitor this and track when each participant is reaching their own specific limit.
Along with the activities for the children, PISE offers extra services to parents during the time that the children are playing. This will be in the form of such things like providing financial support information, nutritional information, a strength and conditioning workout with PISE S&C coaches, a yoga class, information about games to play with their children at home, gas cards, grocery vouchers, and other gifts to make their journey a little easier.
Health & Wellness Lab at University of Calgary developed the first evidence-based 
physical activity manual for children with cancer, called “The Pediatric Oncology Exercise Manual (POEM)“. POEM is a resource for all pediatric oncology patients and survivors, as well as those who work with them in promoting health and wellness. To find more information about the PEER program, a FREE, safe physical activity program that aims to diminish de-conditioning, aid in adoption of healthy behaviours and empower kids with cancer to be physically active.
The ‘Count Me In’ Inclusion Planning Worksheet is a tool to help coaches, athletes, and parents work together to make sure that all youth can be successfully included in mainstream sport programs. This can be completed in only one hour and at least one week ideally prior to program start! There is also a coach planning checklist to make sure that coaches and programs are ready to support kids with ‘invisible disabilities.’
Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE Canada) has developed the Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) series that supports the instruction of fundamental movement and sport skills in an effective, fun and interactive manner. The skills are instructed through the use of both print handbooks and an online video collection. The series is designed to enable the development of physical literacy as a foundation for supporting long-term sport and physical activity participation. One of the resource in the series that support inclusive practices is the Active Start and FUNdamentals For Children with Developmental and/or Behavioural Disabilities is designed for teachers and coaches of youth who have a developmental and/or behavioural disability. This resource includes movement patterns for the 12 fundamental motor skills, inclusion tips, specific adaptations, and activities that allow for modifications based on needs.
Canadian Paralympic FUNdamentals Resource website is an online, interactive tool which is designed for Grades 2-6, linked to provincial curriculum. This tool is the first of its kind internationally that is inclusive and integrated-approach and uses Parasport as vehicle to promote physical literacy.
Canadian Paralympic Committee’s (CPC) Paralympic Schools Week is an annual coast to coast celebration of parasport and the Paralympic Movement in Canada that promotes healthy active lifestyles for all Canadians. The program provides teachers with free resources to educate students about sports for athletes with a disability and learn about Canada’s involvement in the Paralympic Games. Students gain a positive perception of people with a disability through introduction to a variety of inclusive ways to get active and get involved in parasport.
Since 1984, the Défi sportif AlterGo is organized by AlterGo, a group of Montreal organizations that promote access to leisure, sport, and culture for persons with disabilities. This event contributes to the social inclusion of athletes with disabilities and shines a light on universal accessibility. The organization values the success of athletes with disabilities, contributes to spreading the notion of universal accessibility, and promotes the practise of high-level sports and the development of school level sports. The seven days of competition of the Défi sportif AlterGo showcase Montreal as a mecca for adapted sport, accessible to people with disabilities.
Let’s Play BC has an innovative equipment program to promote physical literacy for children with physical disabilities ages 4 years and up. They provide support and resources to teachers and community leaders to deliver inclusive play opportunities. They also focus on play and physical activity, not rehabilitation.
Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE Canada) has developed the Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) series that supports the instruction of fundamental movement and sport skills in an effective, fun and interactive manner. The skills are instructed through the use of both print handbooks and an online video collection. The series is designed to enable the development of physical literacy as a foundation for supporting long-term sport and physical activity participation. One of the resource in the series that support inclusive practices is the Active Start and FUNdamentals For Children with Physical Disabilities which is designed for teachers and coaches of youth who have a physical disability (congenital or acquired disability). This resource includes movement patterns for the 12 fundamental motor skills, inclusion tips, specific adaptations, and activities that allow for modifications based on needs.
The Steadward Centre for Personal & Physical Achievement at the University of Alberta has collaborated with the Be Fit For Life Centres to create “Move and Play the Inclusive Way” resource cards. Based on the popular Move and Play cards, this inclusive expansion pack provides tips, tricks, tools, and theories to turn any game or activity into something that can enhance the physical confidence and competence of any child, regardless of ability. The cards cover important topics such as strategies to adapt games, suggestions on how to modifygames already included in the original Move and Play deck, critical reflection questions, do’s and don’t of language, guided discovery questions, and much more!
Maximum Engagement in Games and Activities (MEGA) includes various games and activities that promote physical literacy and other information. The games are broken down into stages of long term athlete development and fundamental movement skills. We are currently using the knowledge we’ve gained from adapting games according to different abilities to create MEGA 2.0. This resource will include adaptations and variations to games to allow locations to have the tools to adapt activities to all abilities in order to have inclusive programs.
Boccia Coaching Resource is designed to help you play the game of Boccia. Boccia is a target sport and a game of strategy, which can be played by everyone. It requires minimal space and minimal equipment. Boccia is an excellent game to guarantee inclusion and develop physical literacy skills for all children regardless of their abilities. This resource has been designed to help you deliver Boccia in a fun and social environment. The cards are simple to use and can help enhance your physical literacy program within your school, club, or community centre. The games and practices can all be adapted to suit the needs of your participants and each card details how you can do this. These cards are designed to develop Boccia skills within stages 1-4 of the Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model embedded in the Canadian Sport for Life approach.
Canadian Paralympic FUNdamentals Resource website is an online, interactive tool which is designed for Grades 2-6, linked to provincial curriculum. This tool is the first of its kind internationally that is inclusive and integrated-approach and uses Parasport as vehicle to promote physical literacy.
Canadian Paralympic Committee’s (CPC) Paralympic Schools Week is an annual coast to coast celebration of parasport and the Paralympic Movement in Canada that promotes healthy active lifestyles for all Canadians. The program provides teachers with free resources to educate students about sports for athletes with a disability and learn about Canada’s involvement in the Paralympic Games. Students gain a positive perception of people with a disability through introduction to a variety of inclusive ways to get active and get involved in parasport.
Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE Canada) has developed the Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) series that supports the instruction of fundamental movement and sport skills in an effective, fun and interactive manner. The skills areinstructed through the use of both print handbooks and an online video collection. The series is designed to enable the development of physical literacy as a foundation for supporting long-term sport and physical activity participation. One of the resource in the series that support inclusive practices is the Active Start and FUNdamentals For Children with Physical Disabilities which is designed for teachers and coaches of youth who have a physical disability (congenital or acquired disability). This resource includes movement patterns for the 12 fundamental motor skills, inclusion tips, specific adaptations, and activities that allow for modifications based on needs.