Enabling Inclusive Sport Participation: Effects of Disability and Support Needs on Constraints to Sport Participation (original) (raw)
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Inclusion in Sport: An Exploration of the Participation of People Living with Disabilities in Sport
International journal of sport, exercise and health research, 2021
Background: Participation in sport is a fundamental human right [1]. Participation in sports by people living with disabilities (PWDs) presents several mental, physical social and emotional benefits. However, it has been observed that the participation of PWDs in sport and physical activity is generally less as compared to their able bodied counterparts [2]. Aim: The aim of the study was to explore the participation of PWDs in Paralympic games. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to identify the level of participation of PWD in sports, barriers that impede the participation and strategies that can be used to enhance their participation. Setting: The study explored the participation of people living with disabilities (PWD) in sport (Paralympic Games) in Gokwe south district in the Midlands province of Zimbabwe. It focused on exploring barriers that impede the effective participation of People living with disabilities (PWDs). Materials and Methods: The study adopted a mixed methods research approach utilizing the embedded (nested) mixed method design within the traditional descriptive survey design. Structured interviews and observations were used as to collect data. The research participants comprised PWDs aged 15 years and above. The random sampling method was used to select a sample of sixty PWDs. Statistical analysis: Data was integrated into frequency tables and graphs and was textually interpreted to derive meaning from it. Results: The study revealed that access to sport by people with a disability was a major challenge. Lack of awareness, Severity of disability, inadequate funding, poor transport, lack of support from significant others, lack of appreciation of the value of sport, poor and inadequate assistive devices, poor training equipment and the role of the sports trainer were found to be the major factors limiting access to sport participation by PWDs. Recommendations: It was recommended that both governmental and nongovernmental organizations should provide adequate resources for the Paralympics games. It was also recommended that both government agencies and disability rights advocates should increase awareness on the importance of participation in sport by people with disabilities.
Disability & Society, 2012
The paper presents the results of a study seeking to examine the experiences of people with intellectual disability in a sporting context. The research design employed an online, interviewer-completed questionnaire in both a standard and an easy English version designed for administration by a third party for those requiring assistance to respond. Questions sought both quantitative responses about levels of participation and qualitative responses about constraints experienced and benefits received from participation. The results of the study show high levels of participation reported by people who are independent or have lower to moderate support needs whereas people with high to very high support needs had substantially lower levels of participation. Constraints are examined for both those who participate in sport and those who do not. For those who do participate, the benefits were identified as overwhelmingly social in nature, including belonging, companionship and achievement.
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In life barriers to participation in sport and physical activity tend to exist and affect all people i.e. able bodied as well as those living with disabilities. However people with disabilities often experience additional barriers to those experienced by their non disabled counterparts. It is also commonly believed that disabled people can benefit from participating in sport, exercise physical and leisure activities just like their non disabled counterparts. This article reviews, analyses and discusses the critical benefits which persons with disabilities can accrue from participating in sport, exercise, physical and leisure activities. The paper proceeds to review the critical barriers that tend to impede persons with disabilities from participating in these activities and hence prevent them from accruing the envisaged benefits. The paper projects forward by suggesting solutions to the barriers in order to enhance, promote and motivate the involvement and participation of persons w...
Sports for The Disabled: Preferences and Perceived Barriers
Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Physical Education, Sport, and Health (ACPES 2019), 2019
A greater proportion of adults with disabilities have no engagement in physical activity compared to those without disabilities (Healthy People, 2010). Often there are multiple barriers that can make it difficult for people with disabilities to function. So the aims of this study are to identify the preferences in sport activities and barriers faced in physical activity involvement among people with disabilities (PWDs). A total of 28 adults with learning and physical disabilities were chosen as respondents from a specialized organization that provides support for adults with disabilities in Malaysia. A set of questionnaires was used in identifying their preferences in physical activity participation and interviews were conducted in examining the barriers faced. Results in general showed that respondents seemed to be more interested in individual sports such as swimming, bowling and dancing. It was also found out that the common barriers that obstruct from physical activity participa...
In the context of 'Sport for All' we begin by considering the dominant understandings of disability found within society, the medical and social models. Despite a somewhat simplistic binary, these models speak to the different ways in which disabled people are ‘visible’ in sport and leisure. Attention then focuses on separate and integrated provision and we consider the different circumstances and identify the problems and merits associated with each type of provision. In doing this, it is not our intention to present one type of provision as better than the other and our coverage is not exhaustive. Rather we hope this paper offers an insight into the possibilities and challenges that emerge when enabling disabled people to participate in sport and leisure.
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The concept and practice of social inclusion in sport are still undefined, causing confusion both in the field of sport policy and practice. According to the United Nations (UN), a conceptual and analytical work on what constitutes inclusion is needed. Therefore, this study aims to define social inclusion in sport for people with disabilities by reviewing the existing literature. Using a scoping review framework, articles related to a possible definition of social inclusion in sport or to the elements of this definition were reviewed. For the eighteen (18) articles selected, the focus was on 152 statements, which were grouped into 6 main categories, namely: policy (29), fundamental conditions (28), key elements (30), soft skills (20), field gaps (31), and best practices (14). Ten keywords were extracted from each of the six categories using the free online program cortical.io. All 60 keywords were then compared with each other. After deleting the duplicates, 24 keywords remained, wh...
Sports for Inclusion and Empowerment: Examining the Impact on Persons with Disabilities
American Research Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2023
The present paper explored the impact of sports participation on individuals with disabilities, focusing on perceived benefits for empowerment; social benefits, challenges, and perceptions of inclusion. A sample of 30 participants with disabilities from Jammu and Kashmir, UT, aged between 15 to 30 years, were included in the study. Data were collected through an online questionnaire. Sports involvement benefited both physical and mental health, participants reporting better overall well-being and stress management. However Physical and societal limitations restricted their ability to participate in sports. The main limiting issues were particularly inadequate accessibility and prejudice. Sports participation has been shown to empower individuals by increasing their confidence and self-esteem. Most individuals felt respected and appreciated by others, however some had unfavourable perspective alterations. Within the disability sports community, opportunities for leadership and advocacy were limited. Participants, on the other hand, felt the community as inclusive and friendly. Disabled sports athletes advocated for more accessible facilities and equipment, improved leadership and advocacy opportunities, and expanded education and knowledge about disability rights and inclusion to encourage empowerment and social inclusion. The findings can help policymakers, organisations, and practitioners improve the inclusion and efficacy of disability sports programmes.
Introduction to inclusion in sport and recreation
It is often mentioned that sport and recreation should be inclusive to all, including those with disabilities. However, it is also often the case that individuals with disabilities still face barriers to participation. As a result, individuals are limited in what they can do and experience. Therefore, this article aims to give readers an introduction to why inclusion in sport and recreation matters. The article will explore why different barriers occur and how inclusive sports and recreational spaces can become more inclusive to individuals with Cerebral Palsy and similar neurological conditions.
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 2014
Most people with physical disabilities do not participate in sports regularly, which could increase the chances of developing secondary health conditions. Therefore, knowledge about barriers to and facilitators of sports participation is needed. Barriers and facilitators for people with physical disabilities other than amputation or spinal cord injuries (SCI) are unknown. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the literature focusing on barriers to and facilitators of sports participation for all people with various physical disabilities. Four databases were searched using MeSH terms and free texts up to April 2012. The inclusion criteria were articles focusing on people with physical disabilities, sports and barriers and/or facilitators. The exclusion criteria were articles solely focusing on people with cognitive disabilities, sensory impairments or disabilities related to a recent organ transplant or similar condition. Fifty-two articles were included in this review, with 27 focusing on people with SCI. Personal barriers were disability and health; environmental barriers were lack of facilities, transport and difficulties with accessibility. Personal facilitators were fun and health, and the environmental facilitator was social contacts. Experiencing barriers to and facilitators of sports participation depends on age and type of disability and should be considered when advising people about sports. The extent of sports participation for people with physical disabilities also increases with the selection of the most appropriate sport.