Mansfield college physio helping to train health workers worldwide in tackling disability inequality

Physiotherapy manager Alistair Beverley has co-written training materials for the Movement for Movement project in partnership with the University of Nottingham, thought to be the first course of its kind.

He said: “It’s such an exciting project to be involved in. I’m a big advocate the benefits of physical activity for all.

“There isn’t enough support out there for people with intellectual disabilities to get enough exercise. It leads to 44 per cent of deaths of people with intellectual disabilities dying of preventative healthcare causes in 2019.”

He added: “We want to change values and normalise preventive healthcare for people with intellectual disabilities.

“I also have to thank Portland’s speech and language therapy team who helped ensure that students at all levels can access this tool.”

Healthcare undergraduates do not often come into contact with people with intellectual disabilities while training, so do not develop the specific skills required to overcome barriers to exercise, thus creating health inequalities.

Despite laws to help people with intellectual disabilities accessing mainstream healthcare, these people are still frequently perceived as the niche of a specialist medical professional.

Movement for Movement, an Erasmus-funded scheme run by the company Exercise Works!, will help students to understand some those challenges and reasons why people have not received equal access to healthcare in the past, along with tips to overcome any barriers they encounter and examples of good pr actice.

Alistair, already a clinical director with Special Olympics GB, is also working with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists to champion people with intellectual disabilities.

College principal Mark Dale said: “I am so proud of Alistair and the work he does leading the team here.

"W e are incredibly lucky to have an outstanding practitioner to develop programmes to make the most of Portland’s award-winning movement and exercise facilities.”

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