“We erase differences through sport”: in Saint-Thurial, physical activity is adapted for young people with disabilities

It has become a social issue since the Paris Paralympic Games: promoting access to sport for people with disabilities. Sometimes sport must be adapted to the disability, this is the objective of the association “To succeed differently” located in Saint-Thurial, about twenty kilometers west of Rennes. Adapted sport is rare in France and in Brittany in particular. However, it does a lot of good for children with mental disabilities, such as Léo, aged 16, who attends an IME, a medical educational institute, and Jules, aged 13, in inclusion in a secondary school in the sector.

Balloons and good humor

It’s in a dedicated room at the Brocéliande sports complex in Saint-Thurial that the daily one-hour session takes place every Wednesday afternoon. Léo, Jules and their two educators sit on floor mats and throw balls at each other, this is the first exercise before an agility activity around blocks. “We start with ball games with exchanges and then we will move on to collective games to finish the session.” explains Manuel, one of the two educators. “We give our first name when throwing the ball” rejoices Léo. The session takes place under the eyes of Sylvie Morel, president of the association “to succeed differently”. “It’s true that these children are a little clumsy, as they say. And as a result, the educators help them to recover the ball, to be more precise in their movements“.

Happy parents

Outside the room, their parents are waiting for them. Geoffrey is Jules’ dad, he came with his other son who also suffers from a disability. “There are no structures for adapted sports“deplores the father of the family”even if my children do not have a visible disability, they still have a psychological disability“. “This is the meeting not to be missed” testifies Léo’s mother “it’s his sporting activity of the week, in addition to the badminton that he does in his IME. With Léo, it’s still a little complicated, but the educators also know how to manage well when there is a crisis coming Fortunately these associations exist.“.

A mobilized association

Sylvie Morel is very personally committed to the social inclusion of people with disabilities. For her, adapted sport is a means of integration. “The idea, when young people like Léo and Jules practice adapted sport, is that they can tell their classmates that they played sport. It’s a source of pride. We erase differences through sport“.

For any information, the email of the association [email protected]