Athletes with an intellectual disability and significant additional impairment

It is very common for people with intellectual disability to also have physical and/or sensory impairments such as cerebral palsy or visual impairments. Other impairments may include differences in anatomical and muscular structures and heart and breathing problems. Intellectual and physical/sensory impairments often impact together meaning that athletes have to adapt to and overcome both.

Some syndromes which cause intellectual disability also have additional impairments attached. Down Syndrome is one of these and is the most common form of genetically identified intellectual impairment.

The II2 was introduced to reflect the variety of impairments that can accompany an intellectual disability and ensure fairer competition.

Athletes with autism

Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as it is now commonly known, is defined by WHO as a group of complex brain development disorders situated on a continuum of severity. These are characterised by difficulties in social interaction and communication and restricted and repetitive interests and activities.

Awareness of autism and ASD is growing across the world in both adults and children. Around 60-70 per cent of children who are diagnosed with autism are also diagnosed with intellectual impairment. However, some people do not have intellectual impairments, and this condition was previously referred to as Asperger’s syndrome, or is sometimes called high functioning autism.

This new group has been developed by Virtus to provide life-changing opportunities and to enable those people with autism to compete at the highest levels of sport.

The eligibility criteria for II3 is:

• A formal diagnosis of autism (ASD) carried out by a qualified practitioner using accepted diagnostic techniques.

Virtus will be monitoring and evaluating the new eligibility groups over time to refine and develop the criteria. It reserves the right to amend or remove the eligibility criteria at any time. The new criteria are specific to Virtus competition only.