Marie Little Shield

The Queensland Gems represent QLD at the annual Marie Little OAM Shield, a national tournament organized by Netball Australia for women with intellectual disabilities.

The competition was introduced in 2013 and is named after Marie Little OAM, a fierce advocate for the inclusion of people with an intellectual disability in community and elite sport.

To find out more about the QLD Gems and training for Marie Little Shield, contact Peter Speaight on peter.speaight@netballq.org.au.

Eligibility to participate in the Queensland Gems program is set by Sport Inclusion Australia. The primary eligibility criteria used by Sport Inclusion Australia is based upon the American Association on Intellectual Impairment and development disability.

The Primary Eligibility Criteria used by Virtus/Sport Inclusion Australia is based upon the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disability (AAIDD, 2010) definition of intellectual disability which is consistent with that of the World Health Organisation (WHO, ICD-10 and ICF, 2001), and states: 

 “Intellectual Disability is a disability characterised by significant limitation both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behaviour as expressed in conceptual, social and practical adaptive skills. This disability originates before the age of 18.'

Based upon the AAIDD definition the Sport Inclusion Australia primary eligibility criteria to compete in intellectual disability sport is: 
1. Significant impairment in intellectual functioning. This is defined as 2 standard deviations below the mean, that is a Full Scale score of 75 or lower.
2. Significant limitations in adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social and practical adaptive skills. This is defined as performance that is at least two standard deviations below the mean. 
3. Intellectual disability must be evident during the development period, which is from conception to 18 years of age.
Athletes must meet all 3 elements of the criteria above to be eligible for consideration for intellectual disability sport.

A registration fee required for registrations to be endorsed and a registration card to be sent. $50 for Adults, $25 for Students.
Applications should be received by email or by post to:
Sport Inclusion Australia.
4 Lowry Place, 
Benalla, VIC, 3672.

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Marie Little Shield

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Defining intellectual disability – Sport Inclusion Australia Defining intellectual disability – Sport Inclusion Australia Click to open accordion Defining intellectual disability – Sport Inclusion Australia Click to close accordion

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