cycling for people with learning difficulties

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cycling for people with learning difficulties
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side by side
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Special Olympics
Lancaster to Brighton 1986 Cycle Ride
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Special OlympicsTour De Picardy 1989
Great Britain Team
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Gold, silver, bronze. They are all winners.
European Special Olympics,1989 Glasgow.
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Literature Review

• Messent et al (1998,1999)
• Robertson et al (2000)
• Beart et al (2001)
• Heller et al (2002)

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Barriers

• Resources e.g. staff support
• Policy/priorities
• Opportunities
• Transport/finance/access

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Method

• Subjects. 45 adults(m27/f18) 24-49yrs
• Settings. 2xDay centres(35) 6 Houses (10)
• Design. Interview /ethnographic based
• Procedure. 12mths Multi/site/off road/key
  access
• Analysis. Transcript (78) Thematic content

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Findings
Barriers to cycling all about support and
staff initiative. That has been the same before
and after this intervention
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Staff support Not enough staff to cope with
ever bodies wants and needs. Cant keep them all
happy (TV3)
Staff Interface they tend to do the minimum and
only one or two drive things through
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Opportunity for activity
We need more activity choice and variation. We
downgrade the activities to fit the
circumstances (RV2 TV6)
it is difficult to keep them on task and
motivated
There is an awful lot of sitting about for
people with learning difficulties.
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Opportunity for activity-cycling
Options have been enriched, and provided an
extra activity
 If we had more bikes we could get more cycling.
Its brilliant. (AdH2).
it is an activity that involves real
participation, and it is just what we are
looking for. (RV2, RV4, TV 1),
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1) Accommodating impairments
it is comfortable and secure
Cycling is so simple and a most basic thing can
do
builds teamwork, develops relationships and
gives independence
motivation is a biggy.
Fun.
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2. Offering Accessibility and Flexibility
Impact on staff support It is the flexibility.
Even if you are short of staff you can still find
time to take them out, (LW2 RV4)
Impact on the interface was more motivating for
us and them It gets us and them out of a rut,
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Cycle use
Day centre 1. 1-3 weekly _at_ 30min plus a
session (Max 6 hours)
Day centre 2. 1 session week _at_ 20 30 min
Housing network. Average one per month ( 5 x
week)
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Conclusions
Meets Need
Offers opportunities
Breaks Barriers
FUN
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Get Cycling
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jbartley_at_churchnet.org.uk
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Fitness Therapy Freedom and FUN