Thrown Weapons:Accessibility

Accessibility

General

1. The SCA is committed to promoting inclusion and equity in our martial activities. Safe and approved variations to weapons, equipment, and conventions are allowed for enabling participation.
2. Marshals are encouraged to be flexible and creative in finding ways to enable participants of diverse abilities to learn and participate in SCA martial activities with utmost regard to the safety of all.
   1. If it can be safely done, it should be done.
3. Upon request, marshals should make reasonable accommodations, within limits of safety, for adaptive equipment or conventions. Only a warranted marshal can make this determination.
4. Marshals should recognize that not all disabilities are visible.
5. Accessibility issues are to be handled with courtesy, respect, and confidentiality.
6. Medical documentation is not required.
7. Please reach out to your kingdom and local branch Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) officer and marshals to explore options.

Thrown weapons specific

Throwing is a martial activity that can be made accessible to most people with simple modifications to equipment and processes.

To provide a starting place for discussion about what is possible, the following examples are a partial list of approaches that have been widely used.

Vision related

• Targets designed with color blindness in mind.
• Clearing the range when practical for visually impaired or blind throwers to have the opportunity to throw.
• Silent herald/ interpreter/ hand signals/ flags

Physical or stamina related

• Throwing underhand, off-hand, or other non-traditional but safe styles.
• Designated person to retrieve weapons. Or magnet on a string for retrieval.
• Seated throwing (wheelchair or a stable chair)
• Allowing breaks as needed, or completing a Royal Round over several days or events.
• Skipping certain throws (i.e. weapons types or longer distances.)
• Flexibility in setting target heights.
• Adjustments to weapon weight/ size.
• Separate range with a different rate of throwing and retrieving.
• Marking hazards on the range (holes in the ground, hills, etc.)

Processes that support neurodiversity

• Awareness of sensory overload
• Separate range with a different rate of throwing and retrieving
• Using consistent language (i.e. not varying terms) when issuing marshal commands
• Allowed to repeat a throw if startled.