This week’s presentation with Aspect Australia challenged coaches to rethink inclusion, moving beyond the idea that athletes must adapt to sport, toward the belief that sport must adapt to the athlete. Presenters unpacked the social model of disability, explored the “Just-Right Zone” of performance regulation, and shared practical strategies such as quiet spaces, sensory-aware coaching, and predictable session structures.

Catch up on Webinar 2 of the Disabillity Inclusion Education Series. Learn more about Autism Spectrum Disorder and coaching strategies for providing optimal training environments for athletes with the condition.

If you’re an accredited coach, you already know that great coaching means supporting every athlete to reach their potential. Inclusive coaching is not an optional extra, it’s a core skill of coaches from Level 1 to 4. This webinar brings together practical strategies for working with athletes with intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It draws on the expertise of Special Olympics Australia and lived insights from athlete leaders.

The STEPS formula provides a framework for coaches to make changes to their coaching, in the areas of space, task, equipment, people and speed. The changes can be made for the whole group or just for an individual who accesses the session with different equipment and a different coaching plan.