The National Education Union calls for the implementation of adaptive sports to allow students with disabilities to enjoy equal sports opportunities

Students with disabilities and special needs should also have equal access to sports. On the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Sports Department, the National Education Action Alliance issued a statement today (10th), affirming that the draft amendment to the "National Sports Law" passed by the Executive Yuan includes "adaptive sports" as a special chapter, but the draft is still pending for review by the Legislative Yuan. It calls on the Sports Ministry and the Ministry of Education to propose campus implementation plans as soon as possible, so that teachers, teaching resources and funds can be gradually put in place, so that every child can find a suitable way to participate in physical education classes, clubs and sports activities.

Wang Hanyang, chairman of the National Education Alliance, said that when Li Yang was announced as the first sports minister in August last year, the National Education Alliance raised the expectation of bringing adaptive sports into every school and allowing every child to move. Now that the draft amendment has included adaptive sports in a special chapter, the direction is consistent with the initiative. He looks forward to further proposing a specific implementation plan so that the policy can be transformed into changes that children and parents can feel.

According to the revised draft law announced by the Ministry of Sports, the special chapter on adaptive sports covers equal participation, dedicated budgets, barrier-free venues, assistive device support, regular surveys and inclusive events, etc. The National Education Union reminds that the current draft amendment is only passed by the Executive Yuan and still needs to be reviewed by the Legislative Yuan. Article 14 of the current "National Sports Law" already requires schools below high school and the first three years of fifth-level secondary schools to provide adapted physical education teaching for students with physical and mental disabilities. While advancing the revision of the law, the government should also implement the existing regulations.

Wang Hanyang pointed out that the implementation of equal rights in sports can be implemented for children by adjusting the size of the ball, the distance of movement, the rules or the presentation of instructions, so that children can participate and practice with their peers according to their own abilities. The policy should also allow frontline teachers to obtain necessary professional assistance.

The National Education Alliance put forward 3 suggestions, including taking stock of student service needs and teacher capacity, establishing a mechanism for cooperation between physical education and special education teachers, professional consultation and itinerant support; clearly formulating funds for curriculum adjustment, teaching materials and equipment, assistive aids and field improvement, giving priority to assisting rural areas and schools with insufficient resources; and announcing the division of labor and promotion schedule between the central, local and school, and disclosing service coverage, teacher support and funding implementation year by year.

Wang Hanyang said that he hopes that after the sports department enters its second year, every system will be closer to children's lives. "Every child can participate in and enjoy sports with peace of mind, which is the most concrete result of the national movement."