PhD student to be Special Olympics GB Technical Advisor

Niamh Reilly, who is studying for a PhD funded by Mencap Cymru and KESS*, has been selected as the Special Olympics Great Britain Technical Advisor for the Motor Activity Training Programme (MATP). This programme is described by Special Olympics as being "....designed for athletes with severe or profound intellectual disability who are unable to participate in Official Special Olympics sport competitions because of their skill and/or functional abilities. The Motor Activity Training Programme is designed to prepare athletes with severe or profound intellectual disability, including athletes with significant physical disabilities, for sport-specific activities appropriate for their abilities".

Niamh's role will require her to shape the entire national MATP by producing a development and strategy plan, as well as providing continual coaching and technical information, delivering MATP workshops throughout the UK, coach/ athlete/volunteer support, organising regional and national events for MATP and sitting on a panel of experts who will be responsible for structuring the Motor Activity Training Programme for the thousands of athletes with severe or profound intellectual disabilities that are coached through Special Olympics across Great Britain.

Many congratulations to Niamh on this significant achievement.

Click here to view Niamh's profile bio on the Special Olympics GB web site:

http://www.specialolympicsgb.org.uk/our-sports-programme_sports-contacts/?uID=3147

* Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships programme (KESS) is a collaborative research and higher-level skills programme led by Bangor University on behalf of the HE sector in Wales. Supported by the Welsh Government's ESF Convergence Programme for West Wales and the Valleys, KESS will by 2015 provide 400+ PhD and Masters Scholarships undertaken collaboratively with external partners.

Publication date: 12 September 2012