England Athletics are making a firm commitment to support and develop athletics opportunities for disabled people.

Within the England Athletics framework of club and coach development we are looking to develop best practice in disability athletics through the integration of inclusive practice into our core programmes.  This will be aimed at clubs and coaches including the Local and National Coach Development Programme, Flying Coaches and the McCain Athletics Networks.

We are also seeking to influence the development of inclusive practice within competition both within England Athletics and other competition providers.  would your club like support to be more inclusive? If so then fill out the Inclusive Club Health Check document (last on the list of downloads).

Click here to listen to Helen Pearce's presentation at the recent Clubs and Networks Conference in Solihull.

Inclusion Policy, Guidance to Inclusive Practice for Race Organisers and Guidance to Inclusive Practice for Competition Organisers

England Athletics has produced an Inclusion Policy and a document giving Guidance to Inclusive Practice for Race Organisers. This has been developed with the support of key partners including UKA and Sport England.

The Inclusion Policy has been produced as part of England Athletics' commitment to ensure that athletes of all abilities are able to participate equitably within athletics. England Athletics will seek to develop a focus on inclusion, not exclusion, and ensure that it provides appropriate advice to affiliated members to ensure that disabled athletes can participate as fully as possible within athletics events. England Athletics will seek to ensure that it complies with the Equality Act 2010 and encourages its affiliated members to do so. You can download the policy below:

• England Athletics Inclusion Policy

The Guidance to Inclusive Practice for Race Organisers document is intended to provide guidance to Race Organisers to ensure they are working under the guidance of the England Athletics Inclusion Policy and within the requirements of the Equality Act 2010. It is also intended that the document enhance their knowledge and confidence in promoting the inclusion of disabled athletes in their events.

It should be noted that the Equality Act is not just about access to facilities but is intended to promote a change in attitudes and to improve opportunities for disabled people to participate. The reasons disabled people take part in athletics are the same and just as wide ranging as for all people. With this in mind it should be recognised that disabled athletes will want to participate in events for the same reasons as all athletes, for enjoyment, to improve fitness and to experience the challenge and achievement of competition. You can download the Guidance to Inclusive Practice for Race Organisers document below:

• Guidance to Inclusive Practice for Race Organisers

The Guidance to Inclusive Practice for Competition Organisers is aimed at encouraging and supporting local competition organisers to consider the needs of disabled athletes and include them within their competitions. England Athletics included disabled athletes in their senior championships at Bedford for the first time in 2011 and we would like to support and encourage other competition organisers to do the same through the provision of this guidance document and the additonal support and advice available through the Disability Athletics Support Officers, EA Head of Competitions and UKA. You can download the Guidance to Inclusive Practice for Competition Organisers below:

• Guidance to Inclusive Practice for Competition Organisers

Staff

In addition to the core CCSO team we have a network of dedicated staff in place.

National Disability Club and Coach Support Officer

Disability Athletics Support Officers (DASOs):

More information

Additional information including details of the Disability Discrimination Act and Terminology is available at the UKA site at www.uka.org.uk/grassroots/disability-athletics/