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School of Health & Human Performance
Shows DCU researchers at special olympics Ireland launch event

DCU researchers partner with Special Olympics Ireland to launch Young Athletes Programme

Research news - special olympics Ireland human health and performance
Developed by Special Olympics Ireland and Dr's Sarah Meegan, Mika Maninnen and Nathan Gavigan from the School of Health and Human Performance, this comprehensive programme was designed to support coaches in delivering engaging, research-driven activities to help children improve their motor skills in a fun and inclusive way.

The Special Olympics Young Athletes launch event, held on Saturday Nov 16th, showcased the extraordinary progress made in supporting children with intellectual disabilities through the launch of  a new resource for coaches called the Young Athletes Activities Guide. 

The research was supported by Sport Ireland and spearheaded by Dr Hayley Kavanagh, a former SHHP PhD student. The Young Athletes Activity Guide is an evidence based tool designed to support coaches in delivering activities to help improve the FMS of children with intellectual disabilities and will be rolled out to every Young Athletes club in the country.  The event was a testament to years of dedicated work between DCU's School of Health and Human Performance and Special Olympics Ireland.