1 2nd lecture – administrative point of view Portions of special groups in population Importance of physical activity to different special groups The whole of applied physical education in Finland

2 Portions of special groups Pensioners: 1 mill. or 20% of finns Old age pension people Disability pension people Handicapped: ½ mill. or 10% of finns Locomotor handicaps Sensory handicaps Development handicaps Long-term illnesses: 1 mill. or 20% of finns Most common asthma, rheuma, cardiorespiratory diseases, diabetes, mental problems

3 Importance of physical activity for the elderly Upholding ability to function (independency) Joy and recreation Better cognitive abilities Adds social contacts

4 Importance of physical activity for the handicapped Upholds ability to function and compensates disadvantages caused by injury Gives joy and recreation Improves readiness for locomotion and communication (sensory handicaps) Adds social contacts

5 Importance of physical activity for long-term ill Upholds ability to function Decreases symptoms of illness and often need for medication Gives joy and recreation Adds social contacts Different special meanings for different illnesses

6 The most important forms of activity in applied activity Rehabilitation / rehabilitative activity Applied physical education Recreational and conditioning physical activity Competitive sport Top sport Healthcare Schools Municipal,club and Individual activities Organizations for handicapped sport (sport clubs) Organizations for handicapped sport Committee of paralympics

7 Physical activities in social- and healthcare facilities Appr persons (1%) in facilities Appr. 100 physical instructors working Types of facilities: Old peoples homes people Psychiatric institutes Developmental disorder institutes3 500 Alcohol abuse facilities3 000 Rehabilitation institutesno permanent clients Service homes for disabled3 000 Homes for children and youth2 000 In addition plenty of activity in open rehabilitation!

8 Challenges of rehabilitation applied physical education Education of personnel and resourcing of work time for instruction of physical activity Instructing physical education to workers in social and healthcare Facilities for physical education in old institutes Transportation to physical activity services

9 Applied physical education in schools In educational system appr children and youth in need of special care Discharge,separation or inclusion? Proposal of changing basic education law (642/2010) was given to change fundamentals in pre- school and school curriculae (see.

10 Challenges of applied physical education in school physical education Basic and updating education of teachers Education and availability of school assistants Group size Individual curriculum Special physical education teachers and other support services

11 Recreational activities Law of sport and physical activity, Law of services for handicapped, Municipal physical activity systems main organizers of services In municipalities of pop. over an instructor for special activity groups (appr appr. 400 part time workers) Government support for special instructors salaries >3000 weekly groups,70000 participants

12 Challenges of recreational physical activity Lack of instructors Clients with multiple problems Integration / incluusio Healthy seniors Individual clients in small communities Development of nearby activity facilities to suit for all How to get special group people to attend to common physical activity services?

13 Special Olympics Worldwide organization for developmentally handicapped recognized by IOC Offers year-round physical activities for developmentally handicapped and their insrtuctors, coaches and family members Organizes world special competitions every second year (summer and winter games taking turns) SO-activities organized by national handicapped physical activity organizations in different countries In Finland: VAU (SKLU)

14 Competitive and top sport Mainly organized by Sports organizations for handicapped, biggest: VAU = Finnish Sports and Physical Activity Organization for Handicapped ( members) SIU + SKLU + NKL + ELLI = VAU Organizations eligible for government aid Finnish Paralympic Committee responsible of top sport Co-operation body for organizations of special physical activity SOVELI ry

15 Top sports Paralympics in Athens 2004 Track and field EC games for handicapped in Espoo 2005 Paralympics in Turin Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games Vancouver 2010 Winter Paralympic Games London 2012 Paralympic Games

16 PARALYMPICS TORINO 2006 Beijing 2008 Welcome to the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games September 2008 Beijing

17 EC ESPOO 2005

18 Challenges in development of Applied Physical Education Increasing physical activity for mental health patients Municipal special physical education resources Development of school applied physical education Adding diversity to physical activity for elderly Fulfilling needs for funding and resourcing of applied physical education Creating unobstructed facilities and environments for physical activity Investing in Free for all -physical education