Eligibility and Registration

To compete as an athlete with learning disability, individuals must register with ESAPLD. ESAPLD adheres to the guidelines set by INAS-FID (the International Governing Body of Learning Disability Sport) and defines learning disability (sometimes referred to as intellectual disability or mental handicap) using the World Health Organisation accepted standard: "intellectual impairments include those of intelligence, memory and thought, disability of intelligence including disturbance of the rate and degree of development of cognitive functions, such as perception, attention, memory and thinking. Such impairment of intelligence are referred to by WHO as the degrees of mental retardation, falling under the IQ range of 70".

INAS currently allows a 5 point buffer, hence the maximum IQ permitted is 75. The WHO definition often means that those with autism, dyslexia or behavioural problems do not qualify as athletes with learning disability.

Registration

Due to recent changes in the international system of registration, there are two levels, national or international, each requiring a different amount of information.

National Registration :

is for athletes wishing to compete domestically, including entry to national competition, regional competition, Youth Games, and those organised by Disability Sport England.

International Registration :

is for athletes wishing to be considered for International competition, national training squads, IPC competition, or those likely to gain lottery-funding support are required to apply for

Much of the information required for each level is the same, and ESAPLD strongly recommends that the higher level of registration be sought in all cases, unless there are no future plans to compete in competition higher than national championships.

Because of the different levels of information required, athletes gaining National Registration may not qualify for international registration, though we aim to maintain a consistent level of assessment.

Registration forms

England registration forms can be downloaded by clicking here

International registration forms can be downloaded by clicking here

Whichever level is used, it is vital that the forms are completed in full and all supporting documentation is supplied. If forms are received incomplete, they will be returned and registration will be slowed down. Please bear in mind that in can take up to 3 weeks to complete an England registration, and up to 6 weeks to process an International registration.

Whichever level is chosen, you will receive your personalised Registration card, which must be available at all future competitions.

The registration process

When the forms have been completed in full, and all supporting documentation has been attained, the forms should be sent by registered post to ESAPLD national office.

It is important that a series of checks are carried out to ensure authenticity and eligibility. National Registration forms will be assessed by the ESAPLD Registration Officer, who will make an initial assessment of eligibility, and ensure all required documentation has been submitted. Once satisfied, they will be passed before an educational psychologist who make a more detailed assessment of eligibility. ESAPLD will then inform you of the decision.

International Registration forms will be sent to our UK partner, the United Kingdom Sports Association, who will make an initial assessment of eligibility, and to the British Paralympic Association, who make a similar assessment. Once stratified, they are submitted to INAS-FID, who will then make a final assessment. Registration cards are sent to ESAPLD who will then post them to the applicant.

Further information

The issue of registration and eligibility is a confusing and daunting one. The following notes are intended as a guide only, and should be consulted by anyone intending making an application for registration. Further guidance can be obtained by contacting the national office.

Eligibility for England Registration ­ Detailed Notes

• An athlete must be over the age of 11 years as at 1st January in the year of the competition
  
• Persons who have been in receipt of special education or social services training opportunities for those who have a mental handicap/intellectual disability
  
• Persons who have or are now participating in employment training or schemes consequent upon having a mental handicap/intellectual disability
  
• Persons who by reason of mental handicap/intellectual disability are
• eligible to receive the following services detailed below:-
• The services a person utilises - education, accommodation, employment, guardianship, respite, counselling, diagnosis, must be because that individual has a mental handicap/intellectual disability
• The financial support, e.g. social security, pension, grant allowance, a person receives must be because he/she has a mental handicap/intellectual disability.
• The special schooling (open, mainstream integrated or special) a student receives must be because he/she has a mental handicap/intellectual disability
• Any special employment (open, supported or sheltered) a worker is involved with must be because he/she has a mental handicap/intellectual disability.

Athletes applying for National Registration must provide documented evidence of the above through the provision of: A copy of a statement of education needs (SEN), with accompanying appendices

A copy of the athletes birth certificate

Documentary evidence of special schooling or training (ie. a letter from the headmaster or supervisor)

Eligibility for International Registration ­ Detailed Notes

• An athlete must be over the age of 15 years as at 1st January in the year of the competition
• Persons who have been in receipt of special education or social services training opportunities for those who have a mental handicap/intellectual disability
• Persons who have or are now participating in employment training or schemes consequent upon having a mental handicap/intellectual disability
• Persons who by reason of mental handicap/intellectual disability are eligible to receive the following services detailed below:-
• The services a person utilises - education, accommodation, employment, guardianship, respite, counselling, diagnosis, must be because that individual has a mental handicap/intellectual disability
• The financial support, e.g. social security, pension, grant allowance, a person receives must be because he/she has a mental handicap/intellectual disability.
• The special schooling (open, mainstream integrated or special) a student receives must be because he/she has a mental handicap/intellectual disability
• Any special employment (open, supported or sheltered) a worker is involved with must be because he/she has a mental handicap/intellectual disability.

Athletes applying for International Registration must provide documented evidence of the above through the provision of:

A copy of an Educational Psychologists IQ Assessment

A copy of the athletes birth certificate

Documentary evidence of social security or disability living allowance

Explanation of terms

Special Education: this means any particular form of education provided for the person because of his/her mental handicap/intellectual disability, for instance, attendance at a special school for students with a mental handicap/intellectual disability or special provision or assistance in a mainstream regular school.

Special Accommodation

This includes any special house or institution provided for people with a mental handicap/intellectual disability or assistance provided to enable the person to reside in the general community

Special employment:

This means any employment provided specifically for people with a mental handicap/intellectual disability such as full
employment supported by support workers or payments to employers, sheltered workshops or any other employment scheme specifically for the person with a mental handicap/intellectual disability.

Special protection:

In some countries the State puts the protection of people with a mental handicap/intellectual disability in the hands of a guardian or public authority

Respite care:

Some countries provide a system which from time to time moves the person with a mental handicap/intellectual disability away from their parents or carers to give respite or relief or rest from the duties of looking after their charges.

Financial support:

Some countries make payments to the person with a mental handicap/intellectual disability or his or her carers /parents on the grounds of his or her disability.

Whilst on the surface this eligibility criteria seems straightforward, to have a full grasp of the situation there are a number of factors one must take into account.

WHO definition of Mental Handicap/Intellectual Disability

The definition of mental handicap/intellectual disability used by INAS-FID is the one internationally recognised by the United Nations World Health Organisation (WHO) and professional organisations such as the American Association of Mental Deficiency (AAMD).

According to WHO, intellectual impairments include those of intelligence, memory and thought, and disability of intelligence including disturbance of the rate and degree of development of cognitive functions, such as perception, attention, memory and thinking. Such impairment of intelligence are referred to by WHO as the degrees of mental retardation, falling under the IQ range of 70.

The definition describes learning disability (retardation, mental deficiency, intellectual handicap, intellectual disability) as intellectual functioning that is significantly below average manifested during the developmental period ie. from an early age, and associated with marked disability in adapted behaviours, namely the ability to adapt to the cultural demands of society.

There are three major elements to this definition:

• the person must have significantly sub-average general intellectual
  functioning.
• the second element is adaptive behaviour - defined as "the effectiveness or degree with which an individual meets the standards of personal independence and social responsibility expected".
• retardation should manifest itself during the "developmental period" which is generally considered to be from conception to 18 years of age.

IQ Assessment

Whilst older athletes may be obtain information from educational, health or social services records about their level of IQ, the use of IQ assessments has ceased in England following the introduction of statementing of children.

Nevertheless, INAS-FID insist that documented evidence of the IQ be provided by an appropriately qualified person, usually recognised in this country as an educational psychologist. This means that in the majority of instances where registration is applied for then it is necessary to obtain an assessment of IQ privately through a psychologist in private practice.

ESAPLD can arrange for an assessment to be conducted at a cost of £200.