Move-Connect-Thrive: World Café on Physical Activity Participation by Young People with Physical Disability

On 14th April 2025, we were delighted to welcome young people with physical disabilities, their families, public representatives, healthcare leaders, and community sports professionals to our Move-Connect-Thrive: World Café on Physical Activity Participation by Young People with Physical Disability. Together, we aim to support and inspire young people with physical disabilities to engage in physical activities and sports for their health and well-being. 

We recognise the barriers faced by people with disabilities, from environmental challenges to societal attitudes. The CP-Life Research Centre’s recent publication on the top 10 priorities of young people with physical disabilities highlights these issues and guides our efforts to engage more young people in physical activities. 

Collaboration is key to our success. Our Move-Connect-Thrive event fostered partnerships between healthcare, disability services, sports, and the community. We have much to learn from each other, and we are excited to create and develop these partnerships with young people and their families, whose experiences are central to our goals.  

We were delighted to welcome the Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Donna Cooney, to open the event. Following a presentation from our research programme lead for physical activity and rehabilitation, Dr Ailish Malone, we invited our participants to share ideas on how we might support young people with physical disability to “get in the door”, “get started” and “keep going” with physical activity participation. The vibrant discussions led to a range of important ideas and actions, which were summarised by each table host and captured visually by Robyn Deasy, graphical recorder. We loved having Talia McDowell, an adapted dance facilitator, with us on the day.  Talia energised the room leading a fantastic movement break – invigorating minds and bodies for further brainstorming.   

Several participants exchanged contact details and arranged future engagements together, demonstrating how events like this can create lasting partnerships for the benefit of people’s health and wellbeing. 

The day was a great success with engaging and thought-provoking discussions. We look forward to the steps we will take together in the future. 

The CP-Life team would like to thank Clontarf Castle for hosting us, Antonio Osuna for photography and videography, Robyn Deasy for graphical recording, and Talia McDowell for an energising inclusive movement break. Table hosts on the day were Dr Damien Kiernan (Central Remedial Clinic), Dr Claire Kerr (Queen’s University Belfast), Dr Grace Lavelle, Dr Maram Sofiany, Dr Shona McGuinness, Dr Malak Naim and Dr Manjula Manikandan (CP-Life). The event was coordinated by Marie Hanley and Karen Brady (CP-Life). Lastly, we thank all our participants for their active involvement on the day.  

If you too would like to join the physical activity conversation, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team @cplifecentre@rcsi.ie  

Move-Connect-Thrive was made possible by funding from Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland (New Foundations programme, award NF/2024/11753).