The last 10 years there has been a enormous development in all parts of the society, to go forward with integration, emancipation and social partici-pation for people with a disability. The vision on people with a disability has changed in the previous decade; people with a disability must live as full a citizen that must take part in the society. Terms such as community care and full citizenship frequently emerge in the policy with respect to people with a disability. It is clear that the social separation between people is no longer accepted.

These social developments are also seen in the world of sports.

Sport federations stand in comparison with in former days, much more open for sportsmen with a disability. Because of this, people with a disability have more choices and possibilities now a days.

Of course the possibilities to do sports in a specific federation for people with a disability are still possible, but the advantage to become a member of a regular sport federation is obvious.

 

The objective of organizational integration is increasing the sport possibi-lities for people with a disability by use of the:

•       Existing sport infrastructure. (larger and more direct nertwork)

•       Sport accommodations. (more facilities)

•       Know-how in the sport. (more knowledge related to the sport)

•       Expertise in the sport (skilful teachers with an official background)

•       Organization skills (better and more focused event structure)

•       Become a member of a official world sport organization. (EJU and IJF) 

It’s already a fact that the policy of the regular sports federation for people with a disability is embed in their sport organization. In most European countries the sports federation takes the responsibility for all target groups who play the sport from breath sport to top sport. This embedding is made possible by the National sports federation for the disabled.

Of course it is obvious that the consequences for the sport association for the disabled will change to expertise centre for the regular sports federa-tion.             

Mr. Hell  (Chair Judo Bond Netherlands)and Mr. Jacobs (chair of the national

sportorganisation for the disabled in the Netherlands) pictured above.

Sign the agreement that the JBN wil be the responseble National Judo organisation voor Speecial Needs judoka's iin the Netherlands.

They are closely watched by the former Minister of sport Mrs Erica

Terpstra (present chair of the umbrella organization National Olympic Committe and National Sport Federation Netherlands)

The JBN is one of the 14 National sportrelated federations that is respon-sible for the Special Needs athleets in their own sport assessment.

In the first place a good and solid network of clubs who are member of the organization. Weekly 40,000 judokas are learning the art of judo in the Netherlands, this provided many champions in the Olympics, world and Europe. They are trained and guide by excellent judo teachers who are educated by the JBN. The last 10 years these teachers have had

the opportunity to increase their knowledge of judokas with a disability.

Therefore the policy of the judo bond Netherlands is aimed to integration in all the judo club’s in the Netherlands.

The JBN started in 2007, with the financial help of the Johan Cruyff foun-dation the JBN organized a special needs judo school project. 120 special needs schools are listed to participate in this project, what runs over three years. Each special needs school will receive four or five weeks of judo lessons in the school instead of the lessons for physical education, by a

local judo teacher. This way the teacher physical education learns some romping in judo games while the judo teacher get acquaintance with the students. Furthermore both organizations can fallback and make use from each other’s expertise.

By the end of 2009, 7200 special needs children have tasted an experienced the sport of judo in the Netherlands. One of the conditions is that they can immediately become a member of the local judo club and a member of the judo bond Nederland.

Which gives them the opportunity to compete in 10 national special needs judo tournaments in the year.

Also the grading of the special needs judokas is taken care off in the Netherlands special

needs judokas can grade under special circumstances till third DAN.

There is also a national selection for visual impaired, intellectual disabled and judo4all

which are participating in international events.

Organizational integration says something concerning the structure of sport and means that athletes with and without disability can sport together. However complete integration is not the objective of organizational integration.

The principle is to do the sport as close to original as possible and adjusted when necessary! That will be an important main point.

 

In practice:

athletes with a disability train and practice their own sport at a regular sport club.

There are two possibilities:

•       Fully integrated in the sport club.

•       By inclusion setting up a special group for people with a disability within the regular sport club. Athletes train weekly in their own sport hour(s), but just like the remaining members are involved in other club activities, such as training sessions, activi-ties, make use of the canteen etcetera.

In both cases they compete in their own competition, you could say the athletes can ex-perience here what they have learnt in their club.