CARA Adapted Physical Activity Centre
The CARA Adapted Physical Activity Centre is the first of its kind in Ireland, this centre is a National Centre aimed at facilitating the developments of Sport and Physical Activity for individuals with disabilities throughout Ireland.
The centre, known as the CARA (cara which translated from the Irish Language means Friend) is a National Centre seeking to promote and develop quality sport and physical activity opportunities for people with disabilities. The CARA Centre had two main objectives (1) To coordinate and support the work of 21 Sports Inclusion Disability Officers throughout Ireland and (2) To develop as a National Resource Centre working in partnership with Local Sports Partnerships, National Governing Bodies, disability organisations, the National Disability Authority, schools, international links and other sporting organisations. The main aim of the CARA Centre is to facilitate an increase in the number of people with disabilities participating in sport and physical activity through increasing opportunities to participate, improving access, providing information on and organising/delivering training, undertaking and coordinating research, supporting APA developments at third level institutions and assisting in the developments of both local and national sport and physical activity strategies.
The Centre plays a key role coordinating the developments of 21 newly appointed Sports Inclusion Disability Officers within Local Sports Partnerships throughout Ireland.
The role of the Sports Inclusion Disability Officer (SIDO) within the partnership structure is to promote greater sport and physical activity participation for people with disabilities. National SIDO objectives have been developed by the CARA APA Centre, these include, establishing new clubs/sessions, supporting existing clubs, providing information and advice on disability sport, organising and delivering education and training courses, improving access and supporting the developments of a local strategy on sports and physical activity for individuals with disabilities.
A full list of the Sports Incluson Disability Officers for the country can be found under the Local Sport Partnership heading.
For further details please contact
Niamh Daffy Coordinator, CARA Adapted Physical Activity Centre, Institute of Technology Tralee, Co Kerry 0667145646
niamh.daffy@staff.ittralee.ie