II1 – Athletes with an intellectual disability
This is the original eligibility group for athletes with an intellectual disability. For many, Virtus competition is the pinnacle of their sport, whilst for a small number, progression to the Paralympic Games is possible in swimming (class S14), athletics (class T20/F20) and table tennis (class TT11).
The II1 eligibility criteria are based upon the World Health Organisation (WHO) and American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) definitions which state that an athlete must have:
- an IQ of 75 or lower
- significant limitations in adaptive behaviour as expressed in conceptual, social, and practical adaptive skills
- their impairment must have been diagnosed before the age of 22 (i.e. in the developmental stage of their life)
Athletes undergo rigorous testing and must provide detailed evidence which is scrutinised by an international panel of experts before they can participate in competition. Athletes progressing to Paralympic competition must also undergo athlete evaluation – a measure of how their impairment impacts on sport – before competition.
Athletes with an intellectual disability have certain challenges to overcome during competition. These include pacing during a race, tactics, and fine adjustments such as take-off points in jumping events.
Classification In Para Sport
II1 athletes have the opportunity to qualify for the Paralympic Games in athletics, swimming and table tennis. In addition to the strict eligibility process above, all athletes must undertake sports classification – a process to meaure the impact of their impairment on sports performance.
The International Paralympic Committee have developed an online course which provides an introduction to classification in para-sport.
This short film examines the role of the classifier for athletes with intellectual impairments. Here Jennifer Maris – clinical psychologist – describes the role of the classifier and the exciting opportunities and challenges this has opened up for her.
