"Up and Go" project presentation at Lithuanian Sports University

On 2020 October 19 Lithuanian welfare society of persons with intellectual disability „Viltis“,  the researcher,  dr. Dovile Laurinavičienė (Selickaite), Rector of Lithuanian Sports University prof. dr. Diana Rėklaitiene, Director of the Applied Physical Activity Study Program doc. dr. Vida Ostasevičienė, lecturer of the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Kristina Venckūniene and assistant Aušrine Packevičiūtė have met to share the experience of participating in the „Up and Go project“. 

During the meeting the goals and objectives the „Up and Go“project, project partnership, results of the research and experiments carried out during the project have been presented. The meeting also included a presentation on a four-module curriculum for organizations seeking to ensure better inclusion of young people with Down syndrome and intellectual disability in relation to physical activity  as well as information on the development of the „Up and Go“ website (http://upandgo.nu).  It is planned to provide all relevant information about the project until March 31, 2021. This website will provide public access to all organizations looking to develop competence by involving youth with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities in sports and other physical activities.

It is to be hoped that the information provided to the researchers of the Lithuanian Sports University about the project will be useful in disseminating good practice in preparing and developing the competencies of future and current sports and physical activity specialists in order to involve young people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities.

 

 

Up&Go Event at the Baltic Seashore 

On the 18th of July, 2020, our Lithuanian partner conducted a multiplier event. Thanks to the staff and their volunteers there was a chance to involve many participants with intellectual disability and their families in the event. There were specialists, pedagogues, social workers, therapists, kinesotherapists, occupational therapists, Viltis associated members.

The fourth meeting!

The meeting took place in Vilnius, Lithuania on the 24th of February, 2020. The main object was to feedback on how the pilot testing had functioned in the Croatia, Lithuania and Romania. In total, forty-seven participants attended the pilot training. The pre and post-KAPb test indicated that there was a significant increase in participants’ knowledge (P<0.05) after having completed the training. The following table below displays the pre and post mean scores.

The feedback about the usefulness of the developed curriculum was overwhelmingly positive, and the consortium made plans to arrange the multiplier events in the near future.

 

 

3rd project meeting in Pula, Croatia 

The two-day meeting began with the developed training curriculum was delivered to the partners. The day generated allot of fruitful discussions on how the training curriculum could be further enhanced. On the same day, several newspapers and tv came to conduct interviews, especially with our Croatian partner. Weblinks to the interviews are below. On the second day, a discussion about how to publish some of the results from the interviews conducted earlier on in the project. A plan to move forward on this was formulated. Also, overall discussions about the current status of the project and so on were addressed, including ideas for the pilot implementation. All partners agreed that the project in on track as predicted.

 

 

 

Flashmob in Rumania 

Our Rumanian partner arranged a flashmob for the International Down Syndrome Day (21 March 2019), which was highly appreciated. 

2nd project meeting for Up&Go in Stavanger

Triskelion, Stavanger, Norway hosted the second meeting for Up&Go.
The partners presented in detail their national analysis and survey:
o Centar za rehabilitaciju Down syndrom centar Pula, Croatia
o Lietuvos sutrikusio intelekto zmoniu globos bendrija "Viltis", Lithuania
o Asociatia Langdon Down Oltenia Centrul Educational Teodora, Romania

The partners finding indicated that the outcomes and concerns were similar in the three countries based upon that over 60 participants from the relevant target group
participated in the survey from the three countries.

HKR presented their structure for the theoretical report and Triskelion presented the pedagogical report that contained
suggestions on how the training modules will be developed and evaluated in accordance with EQF.

Fruitful discussions followed on how to best design the training modules, so it will be the best of use for the intended target groups.
the following suggestions were recommended:
As a trainer/coach:
- What do I need to know about the condition?
- Why do I need to promote social inclusion and why is it my responsibility?
- Why physical activities, especially for downs syndrome
- How do I structure a training session?
- How do I communicate with the target group and the parents
- How to handle emotional outbursts
- How do I motivate an individual with downs syndrome?
- How can we promote self-efficacy for the trainers/coaches?
- How do I explain to other participants about the downs syndrome and why they should be a part of our group?
- Positive psychology - grit theory
- Leadership
- Which sports/physical activities are the best to recommend?

Up&Go made the news on Swedish TV.

Ann-Christin Sollerhed and Gerth Hedhov, Kristianstad University were interviewed by Swedish TV about the challenge for individuals with Down Syndrome to participate
in physical activities, both on an individual level and a societal level.

https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/skane/sa-ska-fler-med-downs-syndrom-fa-bra-traning

1st meeting of Up&Go 

The first meeting of Up&Go took place in Kristianstad, Sweden on the 15th of November, 2018. The partners introduced themselves and their institutions.

o Högskolan Kristianstad, Sweden
o Triskelion, Norway
o Centar za rehabilitaciju Down syndrom centar Pula, Croatia
o Lietuvos sutrikusio intelekto zmoniu globos bendrija "Viltis", Lithuania
o Asociatia Langdon Down Oltenia Centrul Educational Teodora, Romania

After that, Martin Persson, Gerth Hedov and Ann-Christine Sollerhed gave a detailed presentation on the overview of the project and the underlying evidence. Then the partners discussed the intellectual outputs and the next steps in the project. The day ended with a description of the project management and the implementation strategies together with setting the dates for the next meetings.