Fiji
Fiji
Fiji Sports Association for the Disabled (FSAD)
FSAD’s plan for promoting inclusion
FSAD’s main purpose is “to design and implement a sports development program that will increase the opportunities for children and adults with disabilities to participate in regular sporting activities.”
To achieve this, key partners have been identified to work with and a needs assessment conducted in all of Fiji’s special education centres. The organisation is actively working to encourage the participation of people with disabilities in sport activities at 4 levels:
- Grassroots – the Pacific Sport Ability program and other games based activities for school aged children in the 17 special education centres in Fiji.
- Encouragement – a sport specific program for people who have not yet had the opportunity to participate in sport.
- Competition – a development program for those that want to get more serious and participate at competition level.
- International competition – a performance program for athletes wanting to compete at an international level.
FSAD’s plan for increasing participation
FSAD has developed a comprehensive plan that includes:
- working with schools to develop sport plans to implement each term
- conducting school visits to support and provide feedback to teachers running activities
- training teachers, coaches and volunteers to run inclusive activities
- forming committees to advise FSAD about the day to day running of the program
- running games festivals in each of Fiji’s three regions and also at National level
- raising awareness about the benefits of sport through an innovative education program.
- providing equipment to all of Fiji’s special education centres to enable them to run sport activities
FSAD’s plan for raising awareness
FSAD has developed an innovative education and awareness initiative that brings well known current and former athletes with disabilities together to increase the public’s understanding of the importance of sport for people with disabilities. The Sport Ambassador’s Program sees these athletes visiting schools to:
- promote the importance of sport to disabled children and adults in Fiji
- educating teachers, parents and the community about the value of sport
- act as role models to get children motivated about playing sport
- advocate on behalf of people with disabilities to community, government and non-government organisations.
