DISABLED CERTIFICATE OUTLINE

Goals

The goal of the Disabled Certificate is to formally train instructors with the specific skills that are required to work with disabled students. This course is designed to compliment the instructor's knowledge of alpine skiing, telemark skiing and snowboarding within the Snowsports Industry.

The course is also designed to give instructors the correct tools to meet the demands of the ever-growing numbers of disabled people participating in winter sports.

Objectives

1. To recognise the important role that disabled skiing programs play in the snow sport school.

2. To recognise that the teaching of disabled people is a highly skilled and demanding area of ski instruction requiring special skills.

3. To display an understanding of teaching people with disabilities such as blindness, paraplegia, quadriplegia, as well as amputees and mentally challenged students.

4. To have an understanding of the different types of equipment commonly used by disabled skiers.

Duration

The disabled instructor’s course is ongoing program that is to be conducted within each snow sport school throughout the season. A minimum of 20 hours is required. Hours of actually teaching disabilities count towards training hours ie 2 hours teaching = 1 hour training. However, this training can be broken down into five 4 hour blocks conducted at times convenient to each snow sport school depending on their business and rostering.

All the blocks must be conducted by a trainer who has attended the APSI Disabled Trainers Co-ordination

The APSI suggests that candidates wishing to attend the exam should have additional mileage with disabled skiing equipment either in the role of instructor or student.

Disabled Certificate Examination

The exam will consist of teaching on snow using equipment.

Teaching
Question on snow

Class handling
Safety
Lift riding
Knowledge and operation of equipment
Correct terrain choice
Error detection and correction
Communication skills

Written paper
Consisting of short answer questions

Presentation
This will be held following marking of all exam components.

Instructor Eligibility

All instructors who can ski at a strong stem christie or higher standard will be eligible. Instructors who are not sure of their standard should consult an APSI trainer at their snow sport school for evaluation.

In general

It is expected that this course will attract relatively new instructors wanting to broaden their horizons within the ski industry. Seasoned instructors are also encouraged to participate in the course to "top up" their own "bag of tricks". Instructors with disabled teaching experience will find this course helpful and also gain a formal qualification for their skills.

Note: Disabled WinterSport Australia

You may also find useful information on the following website: www.disabledwintersport.com.au