A LEARNING support group, co-ordinated by a Killarney man, has been honoured with a national inclusion award for its work with people with disabilities in sports.
The award was accepted by Kevin Smith who spearheads the hugely progressive Sporting Chance programme administered by the National Learning Network.
The programme provides children with the opportunity to participate in athletic events in a fun environment while also focusing on improving functional skills such as throwing, jumping, agility and co-ordination.
The Sporting Chance students are currently running ‘Gaelic for All’ projects for children with dyspraxia and autism.
The awards, presented at a ceremony in the University of Limerick, are organised by the Cara Adapted Physical Activity Centre and the judging panel included representatives from the Irish Sports Council, RTÉ, Irish Wheelchair Sport, Active Ireland, Coaching Ireland and the Cope Foundation.
The Sporting Chance network also organises a residential sports camp for children with vision impairments and since its inception in 2010, over 50 students have participated.
They recently joined the Under 12 team of local GAA club Dr Crokes for an adapted training session where they got to meet Kerry GAA heroes Colm Cooper and Eoin Brosnan.
The students have delivered a number of other programmes to local schools and organisations, including St Mary of the Angels in Beaufort and GAA coaching for children with special needs from St Oliver’s National School in Killarney.
Killarney based co-ordinator Kevin Smith remarked: “This is a great honour for the Sporting Chance programme to receive such a prestigious national award. To be recognised by a national body for the work we do makes it all worthwhile.”
The National Learning Network has two centres in Tralee as well as a retail training outlet in Kerry General Hospital.
