Sport, Coaching and Intellectual Disability

There are more opportunities than ever before for young people to participate in disability sport and adapted physical education. For example, there are more than 3.7 million athletes worldwide aligned to the Special Olympics organisation, with national associations active in more than 200 countries worldwide. Despite this rapid growth, all too often coaches and teachers lack adequate knowledge of the particular challenges faced by people with intellectual and learning disabilities. The principle aim of this book is to improve the understanding and professional skills of coaches, teachers, practitioners and researchers, to promote awareness of successful programmes addressing the needs of the ID/LD community, and to challenge the prevailing myths and stereotypes surrounding their abilities.