Mixed Ability was conceived to promote social inclusion and a meaningful interaction between individuals and groups who wouldn’t necessarily share paths in their local communities. At least not in ‘normal’ circumstances. Many of our participants have experienced –...
“This past month Harriet and I have been on placement with International Mixed Ability Sport (IMAS). We are 3rd year medical students from the university of Sheffield. The aim of this attachment was to gain an understanding of how healthcare and social programmes...
"No hay camino fácil para la libertad en ningún lugar y muchos de nosotros tendremos que pasar por el valle de las sombras una y otra vez antes de llegar a la cima de la montaña de nuestros sueños" Nelson Mandela Bajo la atenta mirada de “Madiba”, Nelson...
By Dr Jen Dyer, Dr. Rachel Sandford and Dr. Angharad Beckett The Mixed Ability Sport Development Programme (MASPD) aims to promote social inclusion through sport, education and advocacy. The Mixed Ability model is being developed and championed by the...
Earlier this week we posted the latest #WhoSays misconception around disabled people’s inclusion within sport, specifically, ‘who says disabled people might get hurt?’ This concept clearly resonated with a lot of readers and at the time of writing has been shared...
This week see’s the launch of a new campaign by Activity Alliance entitled ‘Who Says?’. The campaign focuses on challenging misconceptions around disability sport and inclusion with a new theme to be announced each week over the next month and a half. Barry Horne,...
Almost 3 years after their first visit by IMAS and on the hottest day of the year so far, the Gloucester Griffins Mixed Ability (MA) rugby team were awarded with an accolade only held by four other teams across Europe. Based at Longlevens RFC in Gloucester, the...
Historia En Marzo de 2017, durante un entrenamiento del equipo de Yaguares Rugby Club, apareció un joven con síndrome de Down llamado Fernando, que para sorpresa de todos, quería entrenar a rugby. “Chayanne”, como le gusta que lo llamen, había vivido en España y ...
Mike O’Regan began a life changing journey as he assisted his son, other players and their families, his own rugby club and now a Rugby Union Premiership side to join the Mixed Ability movement. I started the Surrey Chargers after reading an...
On a typically rainy English summer day IMAS welcomed over 100 Mixed Ability players from across the country to Derby RFC to take part in the first ever ‘XRugby7’s Mixed Ability’ tournament. XRugby7’s is the RFU’s newest full contact, half-pitch format of the game...
For many Mixed Ability participants, the team or activity they join will often be the first sport they’ve ever been involved in outside of school. This of course brings with it a new set of skills, a new group of friends and a new sport to throw themselves into....
If you want to live a long and healthy life have good genes, be able (rich enough) to live in a healthy environment, have “good” health behaviours and access good healthcare – not too much and not too little. Timely, effective healthcare makes a difference but is...
In January 2018, York and District Indoor Bowls club threw open their doors for a Mixed Ability bowls taster day. Working with IMAS the club contacted local disability support services to promote a day of integration. The club has a history of involving disabled...
My name is Ian Bourne and I was born in 1966 with Cerebral Palsy as a result of the umbilical cord getting wrapped around my neck at birth, leading to brain damage which affects both my speech and co-ordination. I have always strived to lead as normal a life...
2019 marks ten years since the first Mixed Ability rugby club in Italy was established. Chivasso Rugby’s aim is to include players of any (dis)ability as full members of the club, without prejudice or special treatment, rejecting the use of special or adapted...
As a profoundly deaf player with cerebral palsy Tom may have felt that contact rugby wasn’t going to be a possibility. However, it is just 3 months since his first training session and he has already represented Derby RFC in a full contact match and visited Sixways...
The 2018 Christmas blog contribution comes from John Higginson. John wrote to IMAS earlier this year asking what Mixed Ability activities were available for him and his wife after a period of inactivity. John chose not to take up full contact Mixed Ability rugby...
When Bradford Amateur Rowing Club (BARC) decided to give Mixed Ability (MA) rowing a go, they had no idea how it would transform their club. Fortunately, International Mixed Ability Sports (IMAS) decided to track the club’s Mixed Ability journey and this blog...
Sport England announced a £40m investment to get families across the country active[1] earlier this year. As part of their ‘Towards an Active Nation’ strategy they identified that parents and families play a major role in creating sporting habits amongst children...
Sundays Well RFC is home to the first Irish Mixed Ability Rugby Team – Sundays Well Rebels. The team began training together in January 2014 and almost 5 years later have experienced an amazing journey including two Mixed Ability World Tournaments (IMART) and...