Sports Inclusion Disability Programme aims to increase the participation and engagement of people with disabilities in sport, fitness and physical activity within Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County. This is achieved through working in partnership with statutory agencies, sports clubs, community groups, facility providers, schools, disability service providers and people with disabilities. We do this by:
Providing training programmes to volunteers, coaches, care staff etc. to improve access to sport for people with disabilities.
Delivery of a wide range of inclusive events and sessions annually
Provision of information and links on activities for people with disabilities
Gwen O’Looney is currently the Acting Sports Inclusion Disability Officer for Dun Laoghaire Rathdown. If you are a person with a disability and would like to get active, please contact Gwen on 01 271 9502 or email [email protected]
Here are some of the key achievements in 2024:
Disability Sport Inclusion - 1970 Participants in 2024
Sensory Ice Skating Sessions: For services and schools. A free ice-skating session in DLR Ice Rink with reduced lighting and music.
SportsAbility Forum: This new DLR SportAbility Forum was set up in January 2024 with stakeholders from disability sport networking and working together to help guide and shape disability sport in the County.
Woodlands For Health– delivered a 10-week walking programme for adults experiencing mental ill-health in a woodland setting collaborating with Mental Health Ireland, HSE, Dublin Mountains Partnerhship (15 participants).
Xcessible Bronze Award– Achieved this award through Active Disability Ireland in 2024. This is an inclusive programme designed for National Governing Bodies and Local Sports Partnerships to positively and meaningfully provide opportunities for people with a disability to take part in sport and physical activity.
SportAbility Easter Camp: 24 neurodiverse teens accessed this camp with National Governing Bodies providing a range of fun activites.
Inclusion Water Sports Camps 2024– managed the delivery of 5 weeks of this 1:1 camp for children with complex disabilities with DLRCC & Active Connections (80 participants).
Inclusive Bike Fleet– continuing to oversee and promote this Free inclusive bike hire service for people with a disability along the Coastal Mobility Route in Dun Laoghaire (798 separate bookings).
Inclusive Learn to Cycle– Four x 6-week programmes delivered throughout 2024 for children with a disability to learn to cycle independently.
Multi-Sports Club for Children on the Autism Spectrum– established a new parent led weekly activity sessions in Ballyogan. Started in May with 2 separate sessions (24 participants).
Teen Gym: 4 week programme collaborating with Enable Ireland for teens with a physical disability to introduced and instil confidence when accessing the gym.
Adult Mental Health Gym: A 6 week programme to adults with mental health issues to access the gym.
Inclusive Kayaking– delivered a taster session with St Michaels House (12 participants) and ongoing summer session for Open Spectrum.
Inclusive Yoga– organized weekly sessions for adults with intellectual disabilities with St. Michaels House in Goatstown (25 participants).
Table Cricket– staff trained in this inclusive sport to facilitate ongoing sessions on-site in the service (15 attendees).
Inclusive Playground Equipment– installation of inclusive swing in Kilbogget Park and roundabout in Cabinteely Park playground for wheelchair users.
Vision Sports May Fest: Support this annual event that took place in UCD and also a kayaking in Dun Laoghaire Harbour for the visually impaired.
National Rehabilitation Hospital Sports Championships: Supported this 4 days of activities event for past and present clients of the hospital.
Teen Swim Lessons: Collaborated with Swim Ireland for this swim lessons programme for teens with neurodiverse conditions in Enable Ireland heated pool in Sandymount
Orienteering for All: An orienteering event in Cabinteely to introduce people with a disability to orienteering.
Training & Upskilling for Clubs & groups: LAMH, Disability Inclusion Training, Vision Awareness, Table Cricket.
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Participants
Inclusive Bike Fleet798 Separate Bookings
Inclusive Learn To Cycle105 Participants
Inclusive Water Camps 80 Participants with 1:1 Coaching
