Cost
For participants with disability there are often additional costs on top of those that all participants might have to pay.
Australian and international research and surveys indicate that people with disability are generally more inactive than individuals without disability, but more likely to want to increase their physical activity and sport participation. 5, 45, 48, 49, 75
One of the key barriers reported is financial cost. For participants with disability there are often additional costs on top of those that all participants might have (e.g. registration fees, uniforms, etc.). For example, transportation, specialised equipment, additional entrance fees if they need someone to provide assistance can all be additional costs that need to be covered by individuals, families, or organisations who want to encourage participation. 3, 16, 26, 35, 44, 45, 49, 50, 75
A survey by the Activity Alliance in the United Kingdom in 2023 found that cost-of-living increases have a significant impact on how active people with disability are, and that this impact was higher for younger people with disability and those who reported more impairments. 48
There is a role to be played by governments and organisations to help address the higher costs of sport and physical activity participation for people with disability, especially in having more consistent programs, funding, and accessible facilities available to encourage long-term participation. 48, 50, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79
Resources and reading
- Draven and Amy didn't always see sport as an option. Now they're helping others realise their dreams, opens in a new tab, Bridget Judd, ABC, (4 March 2023). Almost 20 per cent of Australians live with a disability, but only one in four of those participate in sport — and it's not for a lack of trying. With issues including cost barriers and a lack of facilities, surveys show some 75 per cent of Australians with disability want to take part, but don't always feel like it's an option.
- Paralympics haven’t decreased barriers to physical activity for most people with disabilities, opens in a new tab, Kathleen Martin Ginis, Cameron Gee, University of British Columbia, The Conversation, (22 August 2021). In a recent research review, we reported that children, youth and adults with disabilities are up to 62 per cent less likely to meet the World Health Organization’s physical activity guidelines than the general population. This is because people with disabilities face over 200 barriers to doing physical activity, two of the largest being built environments and transportation. For example, most public playgrounds, swimming pools, and outdoor tracks are built in ways that make them inaccessible to wheelchair users.
- Removing barriers and bringing back the enjoyment factor in disability sport, opens in a new tab, sportanddev.org, (25 November 2020). A research study across three universities in UK found that barriers to sport and physical activity participation for persons with disabilities included cost of transport and activities, ineffective communication and advertisement, preconceived images of sport as competitive and judgmental, and anxieties about sporting abilities. Perhaps the most significant barrier, and the main challenge for future provision, is that many persons with disabilities have not enjoyed, or perceive that they will not enjoy, partaking in sport and physical activity.
- Adapting Sport and Physical Activity for Individuals with IDD: Highlighting a Decade of Inclusion and Outcomes, opens in a new tab, Jordan Deneau, Kelly Carr, Chad Sutherland, et.al., SIRC, (4 October 2020). Adults with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD - including autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay) tend to engage in lower levels of physical activity compared to the typically developing population, and thus experience poor health and physical fitness. There are many barriers to physical activity for these individuals, including physiological factors, lack of self-confidence, transportation issues, financial limitations, lack of awareness of options, negative supports from caregivers and decision-makers, and the absence of clear policies for engaging in regular activity in residential and day service programs. Key facilitators to physical activity may include enjoyment, support from others, social contact and friendship, familiarity, and a consistent routine of daily activities.
- Annual Disability and Activity Survey 2022-23, opens in a new tab, Activity Alliance (UK), (June 2023). The fourth Annual Disability and Activity Survey report for 2022-23. The survey is the primary source of insight for organisations working to achieve fairness for disabled people in sport and activity. Key findings include:
- Disabled people were more likely to say they wanted to be more active compared to non-disabled people (77% vs 54%). This “activity gap” has remained consistent in previous years, showing an ongoing unmet need.
- Four in ten disabled people (37%) said the cost-of-living crisis has affected how active they are, versus three in ten non-disabled people (32%).
- However – many disabled people fear that being more active will result in their benefits or financial assistance being removed (37%).
- Almost two-thirds (64%) of disabled people said the government should focus on making activities affordable to help more people to be active.
- Younger disabled people and people with five or more impairments were most likely to say the cost-of-living crisis has reduced how active they are (58% and 56%) and how much they socialise (74% and 75%).
- EVERYONE CAN: The experiences and expectations of the 1 in 5, making physical activity accessible and welcoming for all, opens in a new tab, UK active, (2022). There is a clear commercial opportunity for the physical activity sector. The economic value of the ‘purple pound’ is worth £249bn per year, and four in five (81%) of disabled adults want to do more physical activity than they currently engage in. Like many, disabled people (70%) are motivated to be active as a way of either improving or maintaining their physical health. The physical activity sector has an essential role in narrowing the disparities and inequalities faced by disabled people today. ukactive’s vision is to support and help develop a sector that is freely accessed and utilised by all, enabling everyone to be active and participate in whatever capacity they wish. Our sector wants to continue improving the standards for disabled people in every community.
- Spotlight on Disability, opens in a new tab, Sport NZ, (December 2018). This spotlight report focuses on understanding the impact of impairments on participation by highlighting the differences and similarities between disabled and non-disabled people’s participation. Disabled people aged between 15 and 24 are more likely to cite lack of motivation, not having the equipment needed to participate, family unable to afford, location of facilities or spaces, no one to be active with and not wanting to fail as barriers to participation. Not having the equipment is more of a barrier for young people with a walking, lifting or bending impairment. Young people with this impairment have a strong appetite to increase their participation.
- Evidence-Based Strategies for Building Quality Participation in Sport for Children, Youth, and Adults with a Disability, opens in a new tab, Canadian Disability Participation Project, (2018). There are three main categories in which strategies to facilitate the building blocks can be implemented: (1) the physical environment (e.g., accessibility), (2) the program environment (e.g., how sport tasks are designed), and (3) the social environment (e.g., coaches, family, peers, volunteers). While all of these strategies may contribute to the creation of quality experiences in parasport, some of these strategies are also necessary for any form of participation to occur (i.e., access and opportunity to participate). In total, 25 evidence-informed strategies have been linked to one or more of the six building blocks of quality experiences. These strategies are the foundation of a quality experience. This supporting evidence is outlined briefly in the pages that follow.
- Overcoming barriers to participation, opens in a new tab, British Blind Sport, (2014). Sport and recreational activities can enhance the lives of people with visual impairments by improving their health and increasing social interaction. British Blind Sport conducted a survey to understand how blind and partially sighted people overcome barriers to participation in sport, and to understand the motivations of visually impaired people for taking up sport. Telephone interviews and focus groups were used to collect data. This report identifies a number of motivations as well as barriers. Practical solutions are offered to help visually impaired persons, and organisations providing services to them, overcome the barriers. Case studies are also provided.
- Getting Involved in Sport: A report about people with disability taking part in sport (2012), Australian Sports Commission (2012). Over 1000 persons were surveyed during 2010-11 to determine their thoughts on sport for persons with disability. Key findings from this survey include: (1) taking part in community activities and interacting with other people are important motivations to participate in sport; (2) sport promoted a sense of achievement and self-esteem; (3) sport provided a simulating environment that promoted positive health outcomes; and (4) sport was fun. The survey found that ‘disability’ was not the main reason for non-participation in sport. Cost factors, such as transport requirements, support personnel (when required), and club fees appear to be a major barrier to participation. 75% of people with disability (who already play sport) want to play more; this should give sporting organisations good reason to make their programs and venues more inclusive.
- Game Changers: A participatory action research project for/with students with disabilities in school sport settings, opens in a new tab, Daniel Robinson, Sebastian Harenberg, William Walters, et al., Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, Volume 5, (April 2023). Although school communities may be required to provide physical education opportunities for all students—including for those with disabilities—the same is not generally true with respect to school sport (i.e., participation in interscholastic or intramural sport programs). Hence, opportunities for inclusive school sport participation are consequently limited. Recognizing the need for continued attention and action in this area, we recently developed and piloted Game Changers—a participatory action research project. Strictly positive findings, among others, relate to the following: improving upon students' perceived competence and autonomy, inviting student voice, identifying and responding to sport participation barriers, and creating genuine sport opportunities within school settings. More undesirable yet informative findings, among others, relate to the following: unachieved intrinsic motivation and belonging, (un)sustainability of sport programs without “interventions” like Game Changers, recreation/leisure as “substitutes” for sport, and a continued want for authentic leadership and mentorship opportunities.
- Adaptive Sports in Spinal Cord Injury: a Systematic Review, opens in a new tab, Ramsey Rayes, Charlotte Ball, Kenneth Lee, et al., Current Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Reports, Volume 10, pp.145-153, (2022). Adaptive sports (AdS) have been shown to have positive health benefits as well as positive psychosocial benefits. Para-athletes often must overcome a variety of barriers to participation, such as transportation, accessibility, and socioeconomic factors. Facilitators to participation have also been identified, including pre-injury interest in sports, male sex, younger age, and more. In addition to well-known sports like handcycling and wheelchair basketball, adaptive sport continues to evolve, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic, now including virtual options and E-sports. Para-athletes are also being more closely monitored and evaluated pre, peri, and post competition for injury and injury prevention, including in the realm of concussion management, requiring healthcare professionals, coaches, players, and all to gain further knowledge in adaptive sport and the participating para-athletes.
- An evidence review of the current barriers and facilitators of disabled people’s engagement with gyms, fitness and leisure centres, opens in a new tab, UK active, (2022). A narrative review presents available evidence under the three Everyone Can agenda themes: ‘information and communication’; ‘facilities and the environment’; ‘customer service and the workforce’. The evidence suggests key improvements that can be implemented to support and provide encouragement for disabled people to participate in activity in safe, welcoming and inclusive gyms, fitness and leisure centres. Key findings include increasing knowledge and awareness of disability across the workforce and all users, ensure accessible facilities both inside and outside including the equipment and activity delivery, communicating in a consistent manner, and creating a positive experience, having disabled role models and changing perceptions. This review highlights the need for continued improvement to ensure disabled people can participate in physical activity in gyms, fitness and leisure centres.
- Parent-Reported Motivators and Barriers to Participation in a Community-Based Intervention Designed for Children With Motor Skill Difficulties: A Qualitative Program Evaluation, opens in a new tab, Kyrah Brown, Jerrise Smith, Tamaya Bailey, et.al., Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, Volume 39(1), pp.109-128, (2022). Parents play a critical role in their child’s participation in community-based intervention programs. Yet, their perspectives remain largely overlooked in the literature. This qualitative program evaluation used social cognitive theory to understand parents’ motivators and barriers to participation in a community-based intervention program designed for children with motor skill difficulties. Parents (n = 15) of children with motor skill difficulties enrolled in a community-based intervention program participated in semistructured interviews. Thematic analysis revealed six motivators (child needs, satisfaction, perceived impact, affordability, design, and program culture) and three perceived barriers (parent knowledge, access, and accommodations). Parents’ motivators and barriers reflected a combination of personal and environmental factors consistent with social cognitive theory. This study revealed novel insight into program-related environmental motivators and barriers. Program leaders should consider ongoing evaluation and application of parental perspectives to optimize family participation and retention in community-based interventions.
- All aboard: users’ experiences of adapted paddling programs, opens in a new tab, Darien Merrick, Kyle Hillman, Alice Wilson, et.al., Disability and Rehabilitation, Volume 43(20), pp.2945-2951, (October 2021). The goal of this study was to explore the experiences of kayakers and paddle boarders in two adaptive paddling programs. Participants were children and adults requiring physical, cognitive, and/or psychosocial supports. Using an ethnographic approach, participant observations (n = 24) and semi-structured interviews (n = 11) were completed. Data were analyzed thematically. We identified three main themes. "Different Strokes" described the personal meaning participants ascribed to aspects of paddling, including valuing fun, exercise and relaxation. "Turning the Tide" illustrated the process of becoming a paddler, from doubting capacity to feeling competent. "Headwinds" explored paddlers' interactions with the broader social, institutional, and economic environments, such as inadequate funding and program aversion to risk. Programs offering a variety of adaptive paddle boarding and kayaking configurations enable paddlers to make valued choices about their participation. In addition to providing equipment and support to meet paddlers' functional abilities, program developers and clinicians should also consider individual preferences for exercise, socialization, risk taking, self-presentation of disability, and independence. People living with physical, cognitive, and/or psychosocial impairments perceive kayaking and paddle boarding as meaningful activities offering opportunities to exercise, have fun, achieve goals, socialize, and/or relax on the water. Kayakers and paddle boarders value equipment options that meet their physical and disability-disclosure preferences. Despite the existence of adaptive paddling programs, participation may be restricted by program availability, risk management policies, and leisure funding.
- Adaptive sports for promoting physical activity in community-dwelling adults with stroke: A feasibility study, opens in a new tab, Pradeepa Nayak, Amreen Mahmood, Senthil Kumaran, et.al., Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, Volume 28, pp.341-347, (October 2021). Despite proven health benefits of regular participation in physical activities (PA), adults with stroke fail to achieve recommended levels of PA. Two focus groups were conducted among the eight experts and a person with stroke to develop adaptive sports. To test the feasibility of these adaptive sports, in a multi methods study eighteen community dwelling adults with stroke were recruited. Participants played adaptive sports twice a week for two months in a community center. Participants pre and post intervention PA levels and QoL were measured. Participants were also interviewed at the end of the program to explore their experiences of participation in adaptive sports. At the end of the program retention rate of the participants was 83.33% and there was a significant improvement in PA levels, while the improvement in QoL was not statistically significant. Participants expressed positive experience with the program. There were no adverse events during or after the participation. Health benefits, fitness, and fun were reported as facilitators, while lack of access to the sporting facility and lack of caregiver support were reported as barriers to participation.
- Participation of people living with disabilities in physical activity: a global perspective, opens in a new tab, Prof Kathleen Martin Ginis, Hidde P van der Ploeg, Prof Charlie Foster, The Lancet, Volume 398(10298), pp.443-455, (July 2021). Overall, there is evidence that PLWD can derive some of the physical activity benefits observed in the general population. The relatively small number of adequately powered studies might explain some of the inconsistencies. The reviews also show that the epidemiology of physical activity in PLWD is an under-researched area, in need of more high-quality studies to better estimate the health risks and benefits of physical activity for different populations and to identify the amounts of physical activity that maximise health benefits. For adults, behaviour change techniques—particularly self-monitoring, problem solving, action planning, feedback on outcomes of behaviour, social support, reframing thoughts, identifying barriers, instruction on how to do the behaviour, and information about health consequences—were positively associated with behaviour changes. In a qualitative meta-synthesis, PLWD reported that effective interventions were flexible and adaptable to individual needs, autonomy-supportive, and done in inclusive, non-judgmental environments. Physical activity policies, recommendations, and resources must incorporate the values, needs, and preferences of PLWD, relevant rights holders, and stakeholders. Scientists and policy makers must abide by the philosophy of nothing about us without us to co-produce research, recommendations, policy, and other knowledge products.
- Navigator Role for Promoting Adaptive Sports and Recreation Participation in Individuals With Disabilities, opens in a new tab, Iverson, Moriah; Ng, Alexander; Yan, Alice, American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Volume 100(6), pp.592-598, (June 2021). The aims of the study were to gain a better understanding of the resources, barriers, and facilitators of participation in adaptive sport and recreational activities as a means of achieving physical activity recommendations in individuals with disability and to understand preferences for a patient navigator service to help mitigate the barriers. One hundred ninety-eight adults and 146 parents completed the online surveys. Sixteen adults and 18 parents took part in focus groups. Many participants lacked knowledge of available adaptive sport and recreational resources; other barriers were expense, limited number of trained volunteers, and need for instruction. Conversely, persons were facilitated by community, socialization, and words of encouragement/motivation. Participants strongly preferred a patient navigator to be a person active in adaptive sport and recreational or an informative resource-filled website. Findings suggest that physical activity programs including adaptive sport and recreational should be designed to offer people with disabilities opportunities to build social networks and strengthen social support. A patient navigator service could help increase participation in adaptive sport and recreational and physical activity within a community context.
- A review of adaptive sport opportunities for power wheelchair users, opens in a new tab, Jonathan Duvall, Shantanu Satpute, Rosemarie Cooper, et.al., Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, Volume 16(4), pp.407-413, (2021). A structured literature review of the peer-reviewed scientific literature and analysis of major adaptive sport competitions information. Pubmed and Scopus were searched for the phrases “Power wheelchair sports” and “complex disability sport” to identify articles discussing competitive sport opportunities for power wheelchair users. Also, the websites and instructional materials were searched to identify what sports exist for power wheelchair users in the Paralympics, the National Veteran Wheelchair Games, the Invictus Games and the Warrior Games. This literature review identified few programs for sports for people who use power wheelchairs. Many challenges such as lack of appropriate technology, lack of programs, and challenging classification categories all interact to contribute to this problem. Opportunities exist for better and more appropriate technology to be developed and for new and innovative sports and rules to be adopted for these athletes to benefit more from sport and recreation.
- ‘I’ll always find a perfectly justified reason for not doing it’: challenges for disability sport and physical activity in the United Kingdom, opens in a new tab, Ben Ives, Ben Clayton, Ian Brittain, et.al., Sport in Society, Volume 24(4), pp.588-606, (2021). This study aimed to provide insight into the experiences of and attitudes to sport and physical activity for disabled people. Data were generated through semi-structured interviews with eight facilitators and focus groups with 24 members across three disability support organisations. Using ableism as the primary sensitising concept, our iterative analysis revealed that although all facilitators and disabled people were aware of the physical and mental wellbeing benefits of sport and physical activity, only 2 of the 24 disabled participants met the UK Government guidelines for physical activity. Findings showed that participation was hampered by a number of external and internal barriers, including the cost of transport and activities, ineffective modes of communication and advertisement, preconceived images of sport as competitive and judgemental, and anxieties about sporting abilities. Importantly, this study highlighted that many of these barriers were a pretext for a lack of enjoyment and makes suggestions for future practice.
- Development and Validation of a Tool for Assessing Barriers to Participation in Team Sports for Women with Physical-Mobility Disabilities, opens in a new tab, Forough Bakhtiary, Mahvash Noorbakhsh, Parivash Noorbakhsh, et.al., Annals of Applied Sport Science, Volume 9(s1), (2020). One of the most important tasks of physical education managers is to remove the barriers to participation in physical activities. Disabled people face more barriers to sports participation than nondisabled people, and women with physical-mobility disabilities experience numerous barriers. Identifying these barriers requires a comprehensive, valid and reliable questionnaire that is capable of assessing barriers so that we can provide solution to remove these barriers by using this tool and the results of this research in the next steps. The results of the present study resulted in the identification of 10 factors, including individual, structural, psychological, managerial, media support, the role of coach, economic, psychological factors related to pitiful and disrespectful attitudes, supportive public social and cultural-religious factors. The personal conditions of the disabled people affect their sport participation. Physical problems, lack of family support for the disabled family member, lack of understanding of the usefulness of sports activities, lack of knowledge of how to participate in sports, inability to leave home due to inappropriate place of residence, and lack of a companion and teammate are considered as individual barriers for disabled women.
- Factors impacting participation in sports for children with limb absence: a qualitative study, opens in a new tab, Batoul Sayed Ahmed, Marena Lamy, Debra Cameron, et.al., Disability and Rehabilitation, Volume 40(12), pp.1393-1400, (2018). This study uses a descriptive qualitative study design. Nineteen participants, consisting of children and their parents, were recruited from an outpatient hospital clinic for semi-structured interviews. The 11 interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. Analysis of our participant interviews identified six themes as having an influence on sport participation: “functionality of prosthesis”, “plan in advance”, “know what I can do” (understanding capabilities), “it’s like every stroke, 2 million questions” (stigma and the social environment), “love for the game” (love for sport), and “these things are an investment” (the investment involved). The findings have the potential to inform the development and implementation of strategies to increase levels of participation in sports among children with limb absence. Information from this study may help to deepen the rehabilitation team’s understanding of factors that impact engagement in sports among children with limb absence.
- Understanding low levels of physical activity in people with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review to identify barriers and facilitators, opens in a new tab, L.W.M.Bossink, Annette AJ van der Putten, Carla Vlaskamp, Research in Developmental Disabilities, Volume 68, pp.95-110, (September 2017). People with intellectual disabilities (ID) undertake extremely low levels of physical activity. A systematic search was performed using the following databases from the year 1990: MEDLINE, ERIC, and PsycINFO. The studies included were peer reviewed, available as full text, and written in English, addressing barriers to and facilitators of physical activity in people with ID. The quality of the studies was assessed using existing critical review forms. All studies were subjected to qualitative synthesis to identify and compare barriers and facilitators. In all, 24 studies were retrieved, describing 14 personal and 23 environmental barriers and/or facilitators. The quality of the studies varied, particularly for qualitative studies. Only two studies included people with severe or profound ID. Stakeholder groups tend to identify barriers outside their own responsibility.
- Sport and Physical Activity Participation Among People With Disabilities Reported at a Sports Exhibition and Six Months Later: A Cohort Study, opens in a new tab, Louise Michelle Nettleton, Leanne Hassett, Franziska Scheibe, et.al., Therapeutic Recreation Journal, Volume 51(3), (August 2017). A cohort study of sport and physical activity participation levels of adults attending a disability sport exhibition and six months later, and barriers to sport participation. Outcome measures included current sport participation, the Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with a Physical Disability (PASIPD) in MET hours/ day and the modified Barriers to Physical Activity and Disability Survey (B_PADS). Out of a total of 39 participants, at the time of the exhibition, 25 (64%) participants played sport, but were physically inactive overall. At the six-month follow-up (n= 32), 21 (66%) participants played sport and physical activity levels were low. The most common barrier reported at the exhibition was cost (54%), and at follow-up was a lack of appropriate sporting competitions (50%). Whilst more than half of participants were engaged in sport, frequency and overall physical activity levels were low and participants indicated a desire for greater sport involvement. Increasing opportunities and addressing barriers to sport participation for people with disability is warranted.
- Enabling inclusive sport participation: Effects of disability and support needs on constraints to sport participation, opens in a new tab, Darcy S, Lock D and Taylor T, Leisure Sciences, Volume 39(1), 1-21, (2017). Despite enabling legislation, studies in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States have found that persons with disability participate in sport at lower rates than the general population. This paper presents the results of a national study examining the constraints to sport participation for people with disability. Liaising with over 100 disability organisations from across Australia; a total of 1046 surveys were completed – 53% from persons with disability and 47% from family/friends. Respondents engaged in 125 different sport and active recreation activities; with 50% of participation from organised sports, 32% from unorganised and 18% from partially organised activities. The findings showed that disability type and level of support needs explain significant variations in constraints to participation. The level of support needs was the most significant indicator of the likelihood of participation or non-participation.
- A systematic review of review articles addressing factors related to physical activity participation among children and adults with physical disabilities, opens in a new tab, Kathleen Martin Ginis, Jasmin Ma, Amy Latimer-Cheung, et.al., Health Psychology Review, Volume 10(4), pp.478-494, (June 2016). In this systematic review, over 200 factors were extracted from 22 review articles addressing barriers and facilitators to LTPA in children and adults with physical disabilities. Factors were grouped according to common themes, classified into five levels of a social ecological model, and coded according to whether they could be affected by the health-care and/or recreation sectors. Findings are discussed with regard to key factors to target in LTPA-enhancing interventions, relevant theories and models in which to frame interventions, the levels at which the interventions can be implemented, and intervention priorities. The synthesis provides a blueprint and a catalyst for researchers and practitioners to shift focus from conducting studies that merely describe LTPA barriers and facilitators, to developing and delivering strategies to increase LTPA among persons with physical disabilities.
- Sports participation after rehabilitation: Barriers and facilitators, opens in a new tab, Eva Jaarsma, Rienk Dekker, Jan Geertzen, et.al., Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, Volume 48(1), pp.72-79, (2016). Participants were 1,223 adults (mean age 51.6 years, standard deviation 15.1 years) treated in the Rehabilitation Centre of the University Medical Center Groningen, who completed a questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of a self-constructed questionnaire regarding barriers and facilitators. Fifty-eight percent of the participants were active in sports after their rehabilitation. Younger age and a higher level of education were positively associated with sports participation, whereas using assistive devices and experiencing environmental barriers were negatively associated. Facilitators of sports participation were health, fun and increasing physical strength, and advice from rehabilitation professionals. Rehabilitation professionals should emphasize the health benefits of, and enjoyment from, sports participation for people with physical disabilities. They should repeatedly remind people with physical disabilities to stay/become active after completing their rehabilitation programme. Rehabilitation professionals should also provide information about strategies to reduce environmental barriers to sports participation, which could help people using assistive devices to overcome these barriers.
- Impact of Organized Sports on Activity, Participation, and Quality of Life in People With Neurologic Disabilities, opens in a new tab, Sahlin KB; Lexell J, PM&R: the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation, Volume 7(10), pp.1081-1088, (October 2015). In this narrative review, current evidence regarding the impact of organized sports on activity, participation, and quality of life in people with neurologic disabilities of all ages is summarized, and facilitators of and barriers to participation in sports for this population are discussed. The subjects of almost all of the studies were persons with a spinal cord injury. Children and adolescents with a disability who engaged in sports reported self-concept scores close to those of able-bodied athletes, as well as higher levels of physical activity. Adults with a spinal cord injury who engaged in organized sports reported decreased depression and anxiety, increased life satisfaction, and increased opportunity for gainful employment compared with nonathletic persons with disabilities. General facilitators, regardless of age, were fitness, fun, health, competence, and social aspects, whereas overall barriers were lack of or inappropriate medical advice and facilities, decreased self-esteem, poor finances, dependency on others, and views held by others.
- Examining the participation patterns of an ageing population with disabilities in Australia, opens in a new tab, Sotiriadoua P and Wickera P, Sport Management Review, Volume 17(1), pp.25-48, (2014). The purpose of this study is to fill this gap in the literature and examine the participation patterns of people with disabilities. This study advances the following three research questions: (1) what are the participation patterns of people with disabilities? (2) what factors constrain participation in physical activity by people with disabilities? and (3) what groups can participants and non-participants with disabilities be classified into?. The results indicate that 57.2% of the persons with disabilities participated in some form of physical activity at least once per week and 39.1% three times or more per week. The top five activities were walking, followed by swimming gymnasium workouts, cycling, aerobics exercises. The variables ‘restriction’ and ‘work hours’ had a negative impact on frequency of participation, while education had a positive impact. Once people made the decision to participate in physical activity, they participate quite frequently. The top five activities that were identified in the survey are all health and fitness related. With regard to constraints, it became evident that ‘intrapersonal’ and ‘structural’ constraints were the dominant ones. The identified constraints of the ageing population in Australia need to be considered in ways that would allow pathways (i.e., sport development outputs) for people with disabilities, both participants and non-participants, to progress from one level of sport development to another. Finally, the implications for programs and policy considerations must be cost effective, suitable to people's constraints, and sustainable over long periods of time. These pathways may vary from sport to sport (e.g., individual vs. team sports, high to low physically demanding sports, etc.).
- Facilitators and Barriers to Physical Activity as Perceived by Older Adults With Intellectual Disability, opens in a new tab, Marieke van Schijndel-Speet; Heleen M. Evenhuis; Ruud van Wijck; et.al., Intellectual and Development Disabilities, Volume 52(3), pp.175-186, (2014). Older people with intellectual disability (ID) are characterized by low physical activity (PA) levels. PA is important for reducing health risks and maintaining adequate fitness levels for performing activities of daily living. The aim of this study was to explore preferences of older adults with ID for specific physical activities, and to gain insight into facilitators and barriers to engaging into PA. Fourteen in-depth interviews and four focus groups were undertaken, with a total of 40 older adults with mild and moderate ID included in the analysis. In total, 30 codes for facilitators and barriers were identified. Themes concerning facilitators to PA were enjoyment, support from others, social contact and friendship, reward, familiarity, and routine of activities. Themes concerning barriers to PA were health and physiological factors, lack of self-confidence, lack of skills, lack of support, transportation problems, costs, and lack of appropriate PA options and materials. The results of the present study suggest that older adults with ID may benefit from specific PA programs, adapted to their individual needs and limitations. Results can be used for developing feasible health promotion programs for older adults with ID.
- The use of public sports facilities by the disabled in England, opens in a new tab, Kung S and Taylor P, Sport Management Review, Volume 17(1), pp.8-22, (2014). This study examined usage patterns of sports facilities by persons with a disability. It investigated whether there were statistical differences between the disabled sports participants and the non-disabled sports participants in terms of: (1) social demographics; (2) patterns of participation; (3) travel; (4) sports activities; and (5) customer satisfaction. The data collected through the National Benchmarking Service, for 458 sports centres from 2005 to 2011. Swimming, using fitness equipment and fitness related activities were the top three preferences among persons with disability. They were more likely to participate in organised activities than non-disabled participants. The disabled were also more likely than the non-disabled to travel to venues by public transport and experienced longer travel time. Measures that can be taken to increase sports participation by the disabled include competent support at sports centres, promotions through discount schemes or leisure cards, and free transportation to sport centres in catchment areas where high proportions of disabled persons reside.
- Managing disability sport: from athletes with disabilities to inclusive organisational perspectives, opens in a new tab, Misener L, Sport Management Review, Volume 17(1), pp.1-7, (2014). What has become evident is that managing disability sport also has implications for managing sport generally. People with disability are part of the sporting family and need to be considered across all organisational aspects, not just a historical focus on disability. While diversity management in sport more broadly has championed the inclusion of gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, age, and religious issues across the sporting family, this has not been the case with people with disability. Organisations need to consider people with a disability as employees, volunteers, coaches, and as members or spectators depending on the sporting endeavour. This article contains a collection of papers focusing on management issues that centre on constraints to sport participation, supply side attributes, participant behaviours, consumption of disability sport, policy implementation, and sponsor congruence.
- Volunteers and Coaches Training Manual, WA Disabled Sports Association, opens in a new tab, (2023). A participant centered approach to sport and recreation means the needs of the individual are put before the needs of the club/school/parents/coach. Participants should feel empowered to be make choices and be involved in their sport and recreation development. WADSA place emphasis on participation and the creation of a fun and safe environment. We highlight the creation of an environment where all participants are valued and encouraged.
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