The University of Limerick, Ireland hosted the second annual meeting of the IDEAL 2.0 project on 5th and 6th July.
Dr. Debbie Van Biesen & Prof. Tine Van Damme from KU Leuven, Prof. Jan Burns (Head of Eligibility) and Mousumi Mazumdar from Virtus (Marketing and Communications Officer), Dr. Sean Healy from University of Limerick, Prof. Alba Roldan Romero from Miguel Hernández University, Dr. Ingi Einarsson from Reykjavik University and Prof. dr. Natalia Morgulec-Adamowicz from Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego Jozefa Pilsudskiego W Warszawie (Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw) attended the annual meeting.
Preliminary results were shared across all work packages by designated partners which evaluated the progress made based on the project’s performance criteria. Goals/expectations and milestones for the future project year and clear overview of next phase.
Prof. Alba Roldan Romero, who is researching on the leadership and employability side said, “The existing knowledge suggests that engaging in physical activity has the potential to enhance an individual’s physical fitness, psychosocial well-being, cognitive and executive functions, as well as social and communication skills. These domains play a vital role in becoming competitive candidates for employment.”
“We are now trying to underpin the literature on how Physical Activity can improve these domains for people with intellectual disabilities, and promote the importance of Physical Activity for them to have a greater chance at employment,” she further added.
Researchers conducted interviews with coaches regarding their experiences and challenges coaching athletes with II and/or autism at the Virtus Global Games and the Special Olympics World Games, amongst others.
“Preliminary results show that coaches encounter challenges in different areas related to coaching athletes with II and/or autism. The coaches’ needs regarding educational resources will be further analysed and integrated into tailored educational resources,” says Dianne Kortekaas, fellow researcher at KU Leuven working alongside Dr. Debbie Van Biesen on the IDEAL 2.0 project.
Virtus is proud to have partnered with this project and is actively collaborating with the IDEAL 2.0 team to effectively share the project’s outcomes. Various approaches for dissemination were explored and discussed during the annual meeting with the team by Virtus Marketing and Communications Officer, Mousumi Mazumdar.