INTERNATIONAL SPORTS FEDERATION FOR PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY

CLASSIFICATION APPLICATION GUIDANCE NOTES

Contents:

• Introduction

• Primary Eligibility Criteria for INAS-FID

• Evidential Requirements

• TSAL

VERSION: FEBRUARY 2010

INAS CLASSIFICATION FORM - APPLICATION GUIDANCE NOTES FEBRUARY 2010

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1. INTRODUCTION INAS-FID in the International Federation for Intellectual Disability Sport. INAS FID is responsible for managing and overseeing the classification process for athletes wishing to compete within the intellectual disability sport classification in INAS FID and IPC competition. Information about INAS FID can be found at www.inas-fid.org. 2. THE CLASSIFICATION PROCESS In 2008, INAS-FID adopted the IPC Classification Code – the code which governs classification in all disability sport and which all organisations in membership of IPC must agree to. The classification of athletes with an intellectual disability is a two stage process:

1. Primary Eligibility Check 2. Sports-Specific Classification

Once athletes have successfully completed stage one, they will appear in the Classification Master List published at www.inas-fid.org, at which time the athlete may then progress to Stage 2: Sports Specific Classification. Athletes not appearing in the Master List may not participate in competition. 3. DEFINITION OF INTELECTUAL DISABILITY The Primary Eligibility Criteria used by INAS-FID is based upon the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disability (AAIDD, 2002) definition of intellectual disability which is consistent with that of the World Health Organisation (WHO, ICD-10 and ICF, 2001), and states:

“Intellectual Disability is a disability characterised by significant limitation both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behaviour as expressed in conceptual, social and practical adaptive skills. This disability

originates before the age of 18”

4. THE PRIMARY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Based upon the above definition, the INAS-FID Primary Eligibility Criteria to compete in intellectual disability sport is:

a) Significant impairment in intellectual functioning. This is defined as 2 standard deviations below the mean, that is, a Full Scale score of 75 or lower.

b) Significant limitations in adaptive behaviour as expressed in conceptual, social, and practical

adaptive skills. This is defined as performance that is at least 2 standard deviations below the mean of, either: i) One of the following 3 types of adaptive behaviour: conceptual, social, or practical

skills ii) An overall score on a standardised measure of conceptual, social and practical skills.

c) Intellectual disability must be evident during the developmental period, which is from

conception to 18 years of age (see note 3 below).

Diagnosis of Intellectual Functioning must be made using an internationally recognised and professionally administered IQ test recognised by INAS-FID (see note 1 below), Diagnosis of Adaptive Behaviour must be made using an internationally recognised and professionally administered standardised measure that has been norm-referenced on the general population including people with disabilities (see note 2 below). Athletes must meet all 3 elements of the criteria to be eligible for consideration for intellectual disability sport.

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5. EVIDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS Appropriate evidence to support the diagnosis of intellectual disability should be attached to the form.

i) Significant impairment in intellectual functioning. Intellectual functioning must be measured using an internationally recognised and professionally administered IQ test. INAS-FID recognises the most recently standardised variations of:

• Wechsler Intelligence Scales – WISC (for children aged 6-16) or WAIS (for adults aged 16-90), for example HAWIE, SSAIS and MAWIE etc

• Stanford-Binet (for ages 2-85+) • Raven Matrices

The psychologist must provide a report that:

• Is presented on formal letter-headed paper including- o Psychologists name and qualifications o Psychologists membership number and details of professional bodies o Address, phone/fax number and email address

• States when and where the assessment was done (ie. date, location)

• States the name and version of the test used.

• Includes a detailed commentary/assessment of each sub-test area

• States the results of the tests, showing clearly the SUB-TEST SCORES and FULL SCALE IQ. • Includes a copy of the summary sheet/record form showing all scores (see example above)

The assessment and report must be no more than 5 years old.

ii) Significant Limitations in Adaptive Behaviour Limitations in adaptive behaviour affect both daily life and the ability to respond to life changes and environmental demands. Adaptive Behaviour must be measured using a standardised measure that has been norm-referenced on the general population including people with disabilities e.g. Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales, ABAS or AAMR Adaptive Behaviour Scales. In countries where no such test exists, assessment may be made by clinical observations over a period of time. Assessment should be made in the areas of communication, self-care, self-direction, social/interpersonal skills and ability to respond to life changes and environmental demands. The psychologist should provide a report that:

• Is presented on formal letter-headed paper including- o Psychologists name and qualifications o Psychologists membership number and details of professional bodies o Address, phone/fax number and email address

• States when and where the assessment was done (ie. date, location)

• States the name/method of the test used.

• Includes a summary under each domain including: o Communication o Self-care o Self-direction o Social/interpersonal skills o Ability to respond to life changes and environmental demand

• Includes a clear summary/final diagnosis stating clearly whether the person has significant limitations in Adaptive Behaviour.

• Includes a copy of the summary sheet showing all scores (see example above) The assessment and report must be no more than 5 years old.

iii) Age of Onset before the age of 18 Onset must be demonstrated by an IQ test conducted before the Age of 18, or by a signed declaration from a current psychologist stating clearly the evidence on which the diagnosis is based.

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6. THE TSAL The TSAL (Training History & Sport Activity Limitations) questionnaire replaces the SIC-Q (Sport Information & Consequences Questionnaire). The TSAL is not part of the formal eligibility check, but is an important research tool used to inform and develop the system of athlete classification. A TSAL must be completed by every athlete applying for classification. Where possible, this should be submitted online by visiting www.inas-fid.org/athletereg and should be completed by the athletes coach. When the TSAL is completed online, it is not necessary to submit a paper copy. Where access to the online TSAL is not possible, a paper copy should be completed and submitted with the classification application form. Paper copies are available from the website or by contacting your member nation organisation or the INAS Secretariat. All sections of the questionnaire must be completed in full. 7. STORING AND USING INFORMATION INAS will use the information submitted within the application for the purpose of determining eligibility to compete as an athlete with an intellectual disability or for conducting related procedures such as protests and appeals. It may share information with relevant partners, including the IPC, for these purposes. For full details INAS Data Protection and Information Handling policy, please visit www.inas-fid.org 8. COMPLETING THE FORM The form should be completed by the athlete’s representative. All sections should be completed in full as incomplete applications or those that are not completed properly will be returned and this will cause delays in evaluating eligibility. The form and all accompanying documentation must be completed in English. Documents translated from a national language into English must be certified as accurate and authenticated by a registered notary. When complete, the form should be sent to your INAS Member Organisation (or NPC) for endorsement and National Eligibility Officer signature. Applications for classification should be received by the Head of Eligibility within the timescales set out in the INAS Classification Policy and Procedures. Please remember to attach 3 photos (with the athletes name on the back) and a copy of a passport or similar photo identification. When complete, keep a copy of your form and send the original to:

INAS FID, c/o Mencap, 6a Caldervale Road

Wakefield WF1 5PE ENGLAND

If you have any questions or need help completing the form, the please contact the Head of Eligibility at inasregistrations@mencap.org.uk or call +44 1924 234 912 9. ADDITIONAL SPORTS It is not necessary to send this form for each sport in which the athlete wishes to compete. Athletes wishing to participate in additional sports should use the ‘Additional Sport’ Form available on the INAS website. 10. REFERENCES For more information about the definition and assessment of intellectual disability, visit:

• American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities – www.aamr.org

• INAS Eligibility and Classification Policy – www.inas-fid.org

• IPC Classification Code – www.paralympic.org