Opportunities for Players with an Intellectual Disability
Aiming to increase the opportunity for sport and recreation offerings for people to the intellectually disabled and autistic community, Special Olympics, Tennis West, Tennis Australia, and a number of local coaches and clubs, provide tennis options to those with an intellectual disability or autism.
As well as social coaching , tennis also provides a range of tournaments and competitive play opportunities including:
- WA Inclusion Development Squad (PWII & Deaf Hard of Hearing combined squad)
- PWII National Tournaments and Camps
- Australian Tennis Championships
- Virtus World Tennis Championships
- Global Games
- Special Olympics
If you want to understand more about the range of opportunities, activities and programs available please contact Paula Gates, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion & Projects Specialist at [email protected].
Click here for more information on the Tennis Australia PWII Talent Pathway.
AM I ELIGIBLE?
Below is an outline of the Eligibility Criteria to participate in programs and events:
| Classification | Eligibility Criteria | PWII Tennis Tournaments |
| II-1 Intellectual disability |
– full-scale IQ score of 75 or lower; – significant limitations in adaptive behaviour; – onset before age 18 |
– PWII Silver Series – PWII State Tournaments – Australian Tennis Championships – Virtus World Tennis Championships – Global Games – Special Olympics Events |
| II-2 Significant intellectual disability (this group is currently restricted to athletes with Down syndrome – excluding Mosaic DS) |
– a formal diagnosis of Trisomy 21 or Translocation Down syndrome; – for safety, athletes must not have symptomatic Atlantoaxial Instability (AAI) – athletes with Mosaic Down syndrome may compete in II-1 above |
– PWII Silver Series – PWII State Tournaments – Australian Tennis Championships – Virtus World Tennis Championships – Global Games – Special Olympics Events |
| II-3 High Functioning Autism |
– a full-scale IQ score of above 75, OR a diagnosis of no intellectual disability, and; – a formal diagnosis of Autism or ASD Note: athletes with Autism who meet the criteria for II-1 Intellectual Disability will be classified in that class |
– PWII Silver Series – PWII State Tournaments – Australian Tennis Championships – Special Olympics Events |
| Special Olympics We acknowledge that some athletes with an intellectual disability may not fall into one of the above classifications. For these athletes, there are a number of Special Olympic events they may be eligible to compete in. More information can be found here. |
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| Want more information on how to get classified, or what’s required? Sport inclusion Australia: sportinclusionaustralia.org.au/eligibility/ Special Olympics Australia: specialolympics.com.au/index.php/join/eligibility |
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Click here for more information on the Tennis Australia PWII Talent Pathway.
INTERNATIONAL PLAYING OPPORTUNITIES
The Special Olympics
The Special Olympics is the world’s largest sporting event for athletes with an intellectual impairment. Find out how you can get involved:
The Global Games
The Global Games is for athletes with an intellectual impairment.
Learn more about the Global Games
Virtus World Tennis Championships
Virtus is the International Association of Sport for athletes with an intellectual impairment. Virtus manage elite competition and promote inclusion worldwide.
Learn more about the Virtus World Tennis Championships
To find local playing opportunities in WA, please click here.
For more information, please contact Paula Gates, Tennis West Inclusion Lead | [email protected]
If you want to understand more about the range of opportunities, activities and programs available please contact us at [email protected]
WA