The theme for this year’s Cara National Inclusion Seminar, in partnership with Sport Ireland is ‘Children and Young People with Disabilities’.
The event will take place on Thursday, November 21st in the Castleknock Hotel Dublin and registration to attend closes this Thursday, November 7th.
Sport for Business sat down with Cara CEO Niamh Daffy to discover why the day will be an important one for those involved in sport and how we reach out to those with disability.
SfB: What prompted the theme of this year’s conference?

ND: The theme for this year’s seminar is Children with Disabilities, and is titled “Growing Stronger Together”. We have taken heed of the sentiment ‘Nothing about us without us!’
so when we initially set about planning for this event, we decided from the outset that children and young people needed to be at its core.

That has meant all the way from the planning of it right up to the day itself.

In the early stages, we held a consultation meeting with some children and young people, to truly understand their experiences, wishes and needs when it comes to being involved in sport and physical activity.

We discussed all of their issues and experiences in terms of sport, physical activity, physical education, and being involved in the decision-making process.

This group of young people are also responsible for creating the title ‘Growing Stronger Together’ for this event, alongside the imagery and branding that goes alongside it.

They really have shaped the day and we are grateful to them.

SfB: What can we gain by bringing people together around this key area?

ND: The event will consist of a combination of keynote addresses and interactive breakout sessions based around the different areas where children with disabilities have the opportunity to be active; sport, physical activity, and physical education.

There will also be a breakout session based on how to engage with and consult with children and young people, and involve them in the decision-making process.

As a result of these wide-ranging topic areas, irrespective of the capacity to which you engage with or work with children and young people, there will be a wealth of shared knowledge and learning within the day.

We are inviting anyone involved in or with an interested in enhancing sport and physical activity opportunities for children and young people with disabilities to register to attend this seminar and join us for this national event.

SfB: What one or two things would you like to see come out of the day?

ND: At this year’s Seminar you will have the opportunity to hear directly from children and young people with disabilities.

Listening to the voices of people with disabilities has always been fundamental to what we do, and advocate for.

One of our main keynote speakers, Chris Watts, is a young 17-year-old from Dublin who has a vision impairment and will be sharing his story with all delegates on the day.

Each break out session will also have a story directly from a child with a disability. There will be a breakout session on how best you can engage with and listen to children and young people with disabilities in your own environment.

If each attendee could consider that, bring that concept back with them and truly listen to the voices of children with disabilities within their own environment are asking them to do, we would consider that an immense success.

SfB: Do you feel that there is a real appetite to do the right thing by those with a disability?

ND: Given the key actions listed within the National Sports Policy relevant to opportunities for people with disabilities, and given the 200+ signees to date of the Sport Inclusion Disability Charter, including Sport for Business, there is a real sense of appetite and willingness out there among the sector to increase and improve opportunities for people with disabilities to be active.

Providing a forum such as this provides attendees with the chance to learn from and also share with key individuals within the sector.

SfB: What are the key reasons why people should join you on the 21st?

ND: It takes place on Universal Children’s Day and what better way to mark that than by attending this National Seminar for Inclusion.

You will hear directly from children and young people with disabilities, network, and , through interactive breakout sessions discuss the various challenges and solutions facing the inclusion of children and young people in sport and physical activity.

Find out More: National Inclusion Seminar
Register for the Event