The Mayor of Crewe and Nantwich Mr Stan Davies meeting some of our sporting World Champions during 2003

The Cheshire Academy of Integrated Sports and Arts is an award winning centre based in Crewe, Cheshire. It was founded in March 1993 with the purpose of providing sporting opportunities for individuals with physical, sensory or learning disabilities where possible in an integrated environment.

What disability and integrated sports do we teach?

The Academy provides 10 different sports many of which are fully integrated, allowing individuals with and without disabilities to work closely together. These include Athletics, Boccia, Football, Gymnastics, (male and female artistic, rhythmic and sports acrobatics), Motor Activities Programme, Pre School Gymnastics, Table Tennis and more.

What sort of disabilities does the Academy cater for?

The Academy routinely works with children and young adults with autism, cerebral palsy, downs syndrome, williams syndrome, ADHD, spina bifida, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy and many other disabilities. We also cater for wheelchair users and individuals with more profound disabilities.

with learning disabilities and we are able provide sporting opportunities for children and adults with visual or hearing difficulties.

An example of an Integrated Sports Acrobatics routine

What age range do we cater for?

We cater for a wide range of age groups. Children as young as 18 months old can be a part of our fully integrated pre-school gymnastics classes. Some of our other sports (such as boccia) are structured so that we have junior and senior sections allowing us to provide classes for adults.

Who coaches at the Academy?

We have fully qualified staff who run each of the different sports. Staff are all CRB checked and adhere to the highest governing 'Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection' recommendations. We are also keen that individuals with disabilities be given the opportunity to gain coaching qualifications and we encourage coaches with disabilities to be an integral part of out work.

Many individuals with disabilities have gone on to gain qualifications in Boccia, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Artistic Gymnastics, Football, and Table Tennis

The Academy firmly believes in the principle of 'sport for all' and encourage participation at all levels. We cater for individuals with profound disabilities within our sports programme as well as providing the coaching and the opportunities for children with disabilities to reach World Championship standards in a range of sports.

	Integrated activities even at pre school level

The Academy has close ties with local Universities and Colleges providing students with the opportunity to learn and gain practical experience about disability sport as part of their BSc Sports Science, Leisure or Health Degrees.

The Cheshire Academy works closely with both mainstream and special schools and units, coaching sport as part of their curricular activities.

Our close links with the local health teams mean that health professionals have the opportunity to refer children with disabilities to us so that a special physical sensory or behavioural programme can be developed.

The Academy not only works with individuals with a disability but with their families and can advise and help develop strategies which can help reduce the amount of stress such families often face.

But most importantly, the Cheshire Academy is firmly rooted in the local community providing a meeting place and a focus for all aspects of disability. We play a pivotal role in bringing the disabled and non disabled communities together