In June and July 2025, our PhD student Eliška Vodáková had the opportunity to complete a one-month Erasmus professional internship at the Steadward Centre for Personal & Physical Achievement at the University of Alberta in Edmonton—an internationally recognized centre of excellence in the field of Adapted Physical Activity (APA) and para-sport. Each year, the centre provides programming for more than 1,000 individuals with disabilities and engages over 250 student volunteers.
How exactly did Eliška contribute to the centre’s programs? What professional insights did she bring home? And how can the Canadian APA model inspire our own research and practice? Find out in the following lines.
During her internship, Eliška participated in a wide range of programs, including Sit to be Fit (a group exercise program designed to maintain mobility and independence), Fall Prevention (targeting fall-risk reduction among individuals with limited mobility), Adult PALS (individualized physical activity for people with disabilities), para-athlete training sessions, and summer camps for children with special needs. This diversity allowed her to explore the Canadian approach to APA in depth—from the initial client intake process to program evaluation.
Eliška’s internship, however, was not only about learning from Canadian best practices; she also actively shared her own expertise and methods developed within the Czech context. One of the key moments of her stay was the opportunity to lead a session of Aquatic Therapy for Steadward Centre staff as part of a Community Practice initiative. This session, which focused on strengthening core stability and gross motor skills in individuals with physical disabilities, was based on her previous experience with aquatic therapy—an approach she combines with knowledge of physics and movement research in people with specific needs, as also highlighted in her recent interview for Žurnál UP. According to feedback, the session was very well received, and participants had the chance to try aquatic-based activities that were entirely new to them.
Eliška describes the atmosphere at the Steadward Centre as exceptionally welcoming—from the centre’s director Jen Leo to the program participants and APA consultants, everyone was open, supportive, and eager to share their time and experience. In addition to her professional duties, Eliška also had the chance to attend in Canada Day celebrations, a community barbecue hosted for the centre’s clients, a baseball game, para-athletics competitions, and an excursion to Banff National Park.
“The experience was incredibly inspiring. From the way programs are organized and delivered to the approach taken toward clients—the Canadian APA model has the potential to greatly enrich our own practice here in the Czech Republic. We are already building a partnership with the centre, aiming to exchange know-how, collaborate on research projects, and further develop adapted aquatics. A major impetus for deepening our cooperation is also the fact that an international symposium on adapted physical activity will take place in Alberta in 2026,” Eliška concludes.
