Our Ability Counts football format and the SAMEE Charity (Support and Mentoring Enabling Entrepreneurship) are working together to support people with disabilities or impairments through football. 
Participants with a range of disabilities, including epilepsy, neurodiversity, learning difficulties, Down’s syndrome, heart problems, sight or hearing impairments and Cerebral Palsy (CP), are now taking part in the ability counts sessions, helping to improve their wellbeing and confidence.

Speaking to Dorset View, our disability football ambassador and a mentor for the SAMEE charity, Rob Amey, said: “At the SAMEE charity, we support a number of people who now participate in grassroots football, both on and off the pitch. Currently we are supporting and mentoring Anton and Tom, who play football. We’re also supporting Jordan, who is qualified as a level 4 referee and refereeing is now his business along with Connor, a trainee coach with AFC Bournemouth Community Trust.”

“Essentially, anyone with an impairment, condition, learning or physical disability and who can’t participate in, or is uncomfortable playing in mainstream football will find a home within the Ability Counts community. We’re also aiming to provide more opportunities for the visually impaired to participate and increase provision for children. This is being facilitated with funding available for clubs from the FA’s ‘Comets’ programme. There are also impairment-specific pathways to national or international level for certain impairments such as blind, deaf, CP and amputee participants.”
 
What is Comets?

Comets is a recreational, pan-disability football offer for disabled children aged 5-11.

Sessions take place on a weekly basis, either during the evening or on the weekend and are focussed on helping disabled children have fun, whilst building confidence, independence and social relationships. Comets provides an environment in which participants can feel safe and belong.

All sessions are delivered by FA qualified coaches, who have received specific programme training and guidance to provide a safe place for disabled children to try football for the first time and develop key skills.

FIND OUT MORE HERE

If you’d like to find out more about disability football opportunities across Dorset, please email development@dorsetfa.com