Reasonable Adjustments for Qualifications and Awards

At Paddles Up training we are fully committed to provide Equal Opportunities and our Reasonable Adjustments for Qualifications and Awards Policy is designed to support candidates.

Policy Statement

British Canoeing Awarding Body’s policy is to encourage inclusion and therefore avoid a separate system. Where a specific disability prevents a candidate from completing a particular part of training or assessment course, the Provider may still recommend the candidate, so long as she/he believes that the candidate has received appropriate coaching and is, therefore, performing to the best of their ability. In addition, the candidate should show that even though they cannot perform the skill, they understand the technique and its purpose and can demonstrate their understanding, possibly by talking another individual through that skill. Approached this way, awards help disabled paddlers gain confidence and improves self-esteem and, of most importance, credit for what they have achieved.

Reasonable adjustments for Personal Performance Awards and Safety Training

Candidates who are unable to perform part of a training or assessment course

There are many reasons why the above may apply. For example, a visually impaired paddler may have some difficulty in directional paddling or a physically impaired paddler may not have the strength or the balance to perform certain strokes, and so on. Usually the objective for the Provider must be to establish, to their satisfaction, that the candidate can perform all parts of the requirements. Where it is apparent that a disability; sensory, physical or learning, may limit the candidate’s ability to perform an element, or elements, of a training or assessment, then the Provider needs to be satisfied that the candidate: ‘after proper and appropriate coaching, is unable to complete a specific part of the training or assessment, but can demonstrate understanding to how the skill is performed and for what purpose’. The candidate’s involvement in an appropriate coaching programme (receiving coaching from a Provider), before an exception to a part of a training or assessment or award is given, is essential if the policy is to have credibility.

Using Special Resources for a Training or Assessment Course

There may be a number of reasons for using special resources for a training or assessment course. In particular, certain difficulties have been overcome when paddlers have made adaptations to craft, seats and backrests or to paddles. In some cases, this means using totally different styles of craft to those usually used, e.g. Rob Roy kayaks or Va’a. Such craft may not necessarily perform in the same way as the mainstream kayak/canoe. For example, capsize in a Rob Roy does not permit for the following of the usual ‘underwater drill’. Some paddlers may find hand paddles more appropriate instead of the conventional blades. Quite obviously the rules for paddle presentation for some strokes cannot apply with hand paddles. Again the Provider needs to be confident that, in using such different equipment, the paddler is performing to the best of his/her ability, subject to appropriate coaching and can demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the skill using a different approach.

The Certificate

The Certificate for a training course or assessment, given to someone who was unable to perform part or parts of the training or assessment, will not have any comments or other statement on the Certificate to indicate that they were unable to complete a part or parts of the training or assessment. However, the Provider should instruct such candidates in their responsibility to:

• Not tackle any activity that their certificate might indicate they are capable of, but which they know their disability may impede;
• Tell any activity leader of their disability if they believe the disability may impede their ability to take part in the activity appropriately and safely.

Responsibility The Coach/Leader/ Provider

In some instances it is apparent that the holder of a training certificate or qualification has a disability. In this case, the leader of the activity is advised to discuss with the award holder  the implications of his/her disability for the activity. The Paddler: In the case of hidden disability which may, or may not, prevent the paddler from performing parts of the training or assessment, these are often not apparent to the observer. These may be medical conditions such as Diabetes or Epilepsy. It is the responsibility of individual paddler to disclose to the activity leader the implications of his/her whole condition relative to the activity they are undertaking.

Candidates with Learning Disabilities

It is recognised that some paddlers, for example those with a learning disability, may be able to perform the parts of the training or assessment within, or shortly after, the coaching session. However, due to their disability they may lose the ability to perform a skill, either because they have been learning a new skill or because, in the period of time since learning the skill, they have forgotten it. For these candidates it is acceptable for them to complete the training or assessment on a ‘modular’ basis. They may be assessed after being coached on each part of the syllabus. It is advisable for the Provider to devise some form of record keeping system that allows for this. Once all parts of the syllabus have been covered, the pass slips or course schedule are completed and the certificate is awarded in the usual way. In these circumstances, section

Reasonable Adjustments for Leadership Awards, Coaching Awards and Endorsements

Considering the needs of all candidates Paddles Up Training are fully committed to unimpeded access to, and equal opportunities in, training and assessment and to considering the needs of all potential candidates, including those with a range of impairments which would not prevent them from discharging their coaching duties competently on qualifying.

This is why the British Canoeing Awarding Body has made its qualifications and associated training and assessment tasks accessible to all those candidates who are capable of demonstrating their coaching competence, thereby also minimising any later need to make reasonable adjustments for them. If, however, it is felt that, despite the accessibility of the British Canoeing Awarding Body qualifications, endorsements and leadership awards, a candidate with a particular training or assessment requirement should be offered extra assistance, this will be considered.

In such cases, it is essential that we begin a dialogue between us, you and your chosen assessor at the earliest stage to make, reasonable adjustments.

Find out more about our approach to Equal Opportunities