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RESPO DS-DI and the necessity of working at the base

Respo International is founded in 2005 out of a co-operation between RESPO DS-DI and Hogeschool Windesheim. This text is written in 2000 by Jaap Brouwer the president of RESPO DS-DI.

 

RESPO DS-DI takes on responsibility for the development and stimulation of sport and movement for people with a disability at base level, in order to contribute to their social and physical rehabilitation. RESPO-DS-DI does not involve itself with high-level sport. The foundation's objective is to introduce as many disabled people as possible to recreational sports and movement, respecting and starting from people's individual disabilities. RESPO seeks co-operation with such organisations in the whole world, to stimulate mutual communication and to provide services in the area of development and encouragement of sports activities whenever possible.

 

It is generally known that sports for the disabled have been developing very fast in the past time.

The number of participants at the various sports as well as the number of participating countries, are increasing at large events. At the same time, the co-operation between national and international organisations is growing. Sad to say, next to positive developments there are shady sides to be seen at the development of sports for people with a disability. If one could make a simple summery of the present situation of sports for the disabled, it would look like the following:

 

  • compared to the traditional sports organisations in the world, sports for people with a disability is still in its infancy.
  • if a comparison would be made, it would show various differences between countries or parts of the world in relation to development and organisation level of the
  • sports for the disabled. Some countries have strong organisations with governmental support, a federal council, personal, training and so on, but in many others  there hasn’t even been made a start with the formation of an organisation.
  • there seems to be a trend, as well as in governments as in organisations, that in the whole area of sports for the disabled there is only interest in top sports and super elite sports.

 

All these matters contain a warning: countries, which have not a developed system now, need the help and assistance of the well-organised countries. The latter should not forget that only a few decades ago they too were in the initial stage.

 

Place and status of RESPO DS-DI

Nowadays the development of sport and in particular topsport, is mostly in the hands of the IPC and the international federations. The whole area of development and stimulation from the base up as well as the recreational sports has not been a matter of great attention till so far. Thanks to the IOC, which gave a grant for a start, there was the possibility of founding Recreational Sports Development and Stimulation-Disabled International, RESPO DS-DI.

 

RESPO is an independent organisation, which especially aims at the countries and regions were sports for the disabled still have to be developed, or have to be expanded. The philosophy of RESPO is, that first priority must be the interest and possibilities of the potential participants. It is very important for each human being, to have “joie de vivre”, recreational sports can be very useful in this. From the beginning, the only importance is participating in movement activities. The participants have to learn to trust their own possibilities and to have fun in the activities.

 

The practise of sports makes people feel less disabled: the therapeutical values are enormous, both physically and mentally. In many western countries these aspects of sports for people with a disability are acknowledged, and in many rehabitational programmes sport and movement are used a therapy in disguise.

At later stage a participant can of course make his or her own choice in joining either recreational  or competitive sport.

RESPO DS-DI strives to put as many children and adults with a disability as possible into contact with rehabilitational recreational sport and movement, regard­less the kind of and the seriousness of the disability. RESPO DS-DI searches for the pòssibilities and refuses to accept ìmpossibili­ties.

 

The five steps plan

To help countries and regions, RESPO DS-DI organises projects. These projects are focussed on recreational sports, development and stimulation in the widest sense possible. From all disciplines instructors are affiliated with RESPO DS-DI. These instructors, coming from various countries, are all experienced and experts in the field of sports for disabled persons and rehabilitation.

The instructors collaborating on RESPO DS-DI’s projects receive no pay, working during their spare time and holidays. Because all of these co-workers are experienced professionals, RESPO DS-DI is able to organise projects of high quality on a low budget.

 

In co-operation with local counterparts, RESPO DS-DI will endeav­our to make a project based on the following starting-points:

 

  • To stimulate policy-making with regard to rehabilitational recreational sport and movement for children and adults with a disability
  • To look for an organisational structure for the benefit of the already existing private activities and initiatives.
  • To jointly devise and design a structurally organised rehabilitation sport for children and adults with a (serious) disability.
  • To initiate courses in rehabilitational recreational forms of sport and move­ment for those working in the field of care for the disabled, physio-therapists, students physical education and others who are interested in working with disabled (teach the teachers).
  • To develop a recruitment programme for participants.
  • To develop and devise adjusted materials.

 

The realisation of the above-mentioned initiatives is only possible when planned and when put into a programme for more than one year.

For this purpose, RESPO DS-DI has developed a so-called Five Steps Plan.

 

STEP 1.     Exchange of information and Letters of Intent

 

STEP 2.     Fact Finding

During a fact finding mission contacts are made with those involved in the organisation of the programme. Additionally, political authorities and representatives of the press are approached to acquire publicity and support for the benefit of the execution/implemen­tation of the programme.

Also inquiries will be made into available (adjusted) accommodation and materials and, in concert, sequel appointments will be arranged.

 

STEP 3.     Organisation and implementation of seminar and workshops

In the host country, an extensive seminar with workshops will be organised and implemented.

 

Aim:

To set going a consciousness with regard to the value of rehabilitational recreational sport and movement for children and adults with a (serious) disability.

 

Contents seminar:

Theory and practice. Rehabilitational Recreational Sport and Movement for children and adults with a disability.

 

  • The contents workshops could be as follows:
  • Rehabilitational recreational sport activities
  • Water activities
  • Recreational activities based on specific sports

 

Special activities:

Demonstrations of sport for disabled by the teams.

A concluding sport and games day for the children with a (serious) disability ('Sports for all').

 

Target groups seminar:

Those involved in the care of children and adults with a (serious) disability, paramedics, students physical education, government functionaries, education functionaries and represen­tatives of non govern­mental organisations (NGO's) at every level.

 

Target group workshops:

  • Those involved, in the practical sense, in working with children and adults with a disability (regard­less the nature of the disability),
  • Sport leaders of conventional sport organisations who are interested in integrating disabled into sport associations.

 

STEP 4.     Organisation of specific workshops

 

Aim:

To deepen the theory and practice subjects as discussed in step 3.

Selection of a group of co- workers who want to dedicate themselves to putting into practice the discussed subjects and philosophy, as voluntary RESPO-instructors for their country or region.

 

Contents:

  • Rehabiltational Recreational Sports and Movement (Recreational Activities)
  • Adapted sports (in concert)
  • Basic Management/Organisation

 

Target group:

  • Those involved, in the practical sense, in working with children and adults with a disability (regard­less the nature of the disability),
  • Sport leaders of conventional sport organisations who are interested in integrating disabled into sport associations
  • For Basic Management/Organisation: executives and others involved in
  • organisational matters.

 

STEP 5.     Workshops, final evaluation, certification junior instructors

 

Aim:

  • A number of (in step 3. selected) instructors give instruction to the participants of the workshops, supervised by RESPO DS-DI instructors,
  • Appointment of these instructors as junior instructor for RESPO DS-DI,
  • Sequel appointments for future possibilities of co-operation
  • To come to a well-balanced conclusion and a final judgement.

 

Contents:

  • Rehabilitational Recreational Sport and Movement (by junior instructor)
  • Adapted sports (in concert)
  • Basic Management/Organisation by RESPO DS-DI instructor

 

Target group:

  • Those involved, in the practical sense, in working with children and adults with a disability (regard­less the nature of the disability),
  • Sport leaders of conventional sport organisations who are interested in integrating disabled into sport associations
  • For Basic Management/Organisation: executives and others involved in
  • organisational matters.

 

Finally

During the almost 10 years of her existence, RESPO DS-DI has organised many projects in many different countries, always in close co-operation with the counterparts.

It has been proven that the five-steps-plan is very effective.

Many participants of the RESPO projects from all over the world are now implementing their knowledge to the benefit of others, children and adults with disability because they have adopted the slogan of RESPO:

I feel RESPOnsible