Special Olympics          New Hampshire        650 Elm Street        Manchester, NH 03101        Phone: 1-800-639-2608 or        (603) 624-1250        Fax: (603) 624-4911        mission statement Motor Activities Training Program (MATP) MATP provides comprehensive motor activity and recreation training for people with severe disabilities, with emphasis on training and participation rather than competition. MATP is part of a commitment by Special Olympics to offer sports training opportunities to individuals with mental challenges of all ability levels. After five years of consultation with educators, physical therapists and recreation specialists, and after field testing in the United States and several other countries, MATP was launched in 1989. A comprehensive MATP Program Guide has been developed to assist trainers. How MATP Works MATP trains participants in motor-based recreation activities and enables them to take part in a program which is appropriate to the age and ability of each individual. The skills learned through MATP enable people with severe disabilities to participate in community recreational activities with their non-disabled peers. While the goal of MATP is not necessarily to prepare persons with severe disabilities to participate in sports, many MATP participants gain the skills required to compete in certain Special Olympics sports. MATP trains participants in seven basic motor skills designed to relate to specific sports. The skills also complement training by educators and therapists in daily living skills. MATP trains participants in: Mobility- gymnastics Dexterity- athletics Striking- softball Kicking- soccer Manual wheelchair- athletics Electric wheelchair- athletics SONH offers a MATP “Challenge Day" for athletes to demonstrate their skills in late Fall. Challenge Medals are awarded.