About the Course
YMCA Awards Level 3 Award in Supporting Participating in Physical Activity: Disability and Impairment
This qualification is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to support inclusive working in a physical activity setting. These essential elements are required for industry recognition as an instructor of physical activity and exercise for individuals with disabilities and impairments.
You will be able to recognise the challenges that individuals with disabilities and impairments experience when attending a physical activity setting and when participating in physical activity and exercise.
"I really appreciate all your excellent feedback and support throughout the course, you have really helped me to progress through each unit and make sure I was getting the level of detail required, thank you. I have really enjoyed doing the course and looking forward to developing this side of my business and working with more disabled clients going forward. I have found it really rewarding working with ***** and it's definitely the direction I want to take." Tim (student)
Payment Plan
To make your qualification more affordable, we offer a payment plan where you pay a non-refundable £125 deposit and choose to repay the balance, interest-free over 3, 6, 9 or 12 months.
Entry Requirements
In order to achieve this qualification, you will be required to lead exercise sessions designed for individuals with disabilities and impairments. Therefore, you must have successfully completed an industry recognised Level 2 fitness instructor qualification as a prerequisite.
Qualification Structure
To achieve the Level 3 Award in Supporting Participating in Physical Activity: Disability and Impairment you must complete ONE unit from GROUP A and ONE unit from GROUP B.
To fully meet the CIMSPA professional standard, you must also complete the optional unit from GROUP C.
GROUP A
Unit 1 - Principles of working inclusively with individuals with disabilities and impairments - assessed via
GROUP B
Unit 1 - A basic awareness of safeguarding adults and adults at risk
Unit 2 - An essential understanding of safeguarding adults and adults at risk for anyone with responsibilities for participants' welfare
Unit 3 - A strategic understanding of safeguarding adults and adults at risk
GROUP C
Unit 1 - Planning and delivering exercise for individuals with disabilities and impairments
Choose the right GROUP B unit for your role
Role | Unit 1 - A basic awareness of safeguarding adults and adults at risk | Unit 2 - An essential understanding of safeguarding adults and adults at risk for anyone with responsibilities for participants' welfare | Unit 3 - A strategic understanding of safeguarding adults and adults at risk |
Minimal contact with adults and adults at risk for anyone in a sport or activity organisation | X | ||
Anyone with the responsibilities for participants' welfare, and who has contact with adults and adults at risk | X | ||
Anyone with the responsibilities for receiving concerns and making safeguarding referrals | X | ||
Managerial/board/senior level of employment or role with responsibility for recruitment decisions | X |
What will I learn on this course?
What topics are covered on this course?
GROUP A
Disability and inclusive working
Impairments and disabilities and their effect on participation in activity
Benefits and effects of physical activity and exercise for individuals with disabilities and impairments
Contraindications to exercise for individuals with disabilities and impairments
Guidelines for best practice when working with individuals with disabilities and impairments
A disabled person in the context of this course is best considered to be anybody for whom there are factors causing a loss of function and who experiences barriers to exercise as a result. The barriers include;
Sensory - vision and hearing loss
Physical - movement and mobility, range of motion, balance, strength, wheelchair users
Intellectual and cognitive - thinking, remembering, learning, communicating, social relationships, motivation, behavioural problems, mood and anxiety disorders, seizures
Disabilities covered in this course include:
Down's syndrome
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Asperger's syndrome
Difficulty with fine or gross motor skills, coordination, balance and agility,
Limb loss, paralysis and changes to limb and strength
Energy limitations and fatigue
Pain and its effects on energy expenditure
Cerebral palsy
Spina bifida
Spinal cord injury, tetraplegia, paraplegia
Limb amputations/limb difference
Dwarfism
GROUP B, Unit 1
Safeguarding adults and adults at risk
Different types and indicators of abuse
Responding to reports or suspicions of abuse
Recognising and responding to potential indicators of abuse and poor practice
GROUP B, Unit 2
As per Unit 1 plus, key principles of safeguarding adults and adults at risk including government legislation, and good working practices,
GROUP B, Unit 3
Importance of a safeguarding and protection policy in relation to organisation requirements
The organisations vision in relation to safeguarding and protection
Key legislation and its impact on organisational policy
Implementing, review and evaluate own organisation's safeguarding policies and procedures
Management of risk in relation to safeguarding adults and adults at risk with your own role
Working with others to share best practices
GROUP C
Screening and assessing individuals with disabilities and impairments prior to participation in physical activity and exercise
Planning and adapting exercise and physical activities for individuals with disabilities and impairments
Plan and adapt exercise and physical activities for individuals with disabilities and impairments
How to review and evaluate exercise and activity sessions
Deliver and review inclusive exercise sessions for individuals with disabilities and impairments
Study and Assessments
This Level 3 qualification is a DISTANCE LEARNING course, which involves study from home.
The assessments you will complete as part of this qualification include:
Question and answer worksheets
Creation of information resources which could include a poster, handout, leaflet, social media post, podcast, Facebook recording or presentation
Questions relating to three realistic case studies
Witness testimony (for GROUP B, Unit 2 only)
Portfolio of evidence and professional discussion (GROUP B, Unit 3 only)
Session planning and session delivery via video submission (GROUP C only)
12-week exercise programme planning (GROUP C only)
Practical teaching log and observations via video submission (GROUP C only)
What course materials are provided for this course?
Course manual (hard copy),
Learner achievement record (assessment paperwork) available to download,
Access to a personal tutor who can be contacted via email or phone,
Full guidance on how to film and submit video assessments.
Your Instructor
Joanna Bentley
Apply Now
Please complete the form to apply to complete this course.