We are proud to highlight the involvement of Mr. Allistair Adam Nelson, a dedicated Lecturer from Master of Clinical Psychology programme, who has been honored with the responsibility of serving as part of the National Paralympic Classifier Team. This esteemed role involves assessing athletes' eligibility to compete in the Paralympic Games under the Intellectual Impairment (II) category. Allistair participated in an athlete classification event organized by the Paralympic Council Malaysia (PCM) and Jabatan Belia dan Sukan Negeri Selangor at Kompleks Belia Dan Sukan Selangor (KOMBES). The event aimed to prepare athletes representing Selangor for the upcoming Para Sukma Sarawak 2024, scheduled from September 22nd to 28th.
The classification process is crucial to ensuring that athletes' impairments are relevant to their sport and that competition remains fair. To qualify for the Intellectual Impairment category, athletes must meet specific criteria, including an IQ score of 75 or below, low adaptive functioning scores, and documented proof of attendance at a special school. As a Clinical Psychologist, Allistair's key responsibilities during the event included conducting Intellectual Quotient (IQ) assessments using the Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) or the Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), and evaluating adaptive behavior functioning through the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. These assessments play a vital role in determining the athletes' eligibility to compete.
Allistair initiated the classification process with intake interviews involving the athletes' parents to gain insight into the athletes' current functioning. Following this, he administered the Vineland Assessment, which evaluates three core components - Communication, Socialization, and Daily Living Skills. After completing this evaluation, he proceeded with the IQ assessments, closely observing the athletes' responses and behavior to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the results. In total, 16 athletes from various sports, including swimming, tenpin bowling, and ping pong, were assessed. Allistair's meticulous approach ensures that all athletes compete on equal grounds, upholding the fairness and integrity of the Paralympic Games.