Disability issues in sports include aspects of physical limitations but appear to center more on attitudes and opportunities. Although programs such as the Paralympics and Special Olympics create opportunities for some, the Women's Sports Foundation reports that as of 2009, although 48 percent of children with disabilities wanted to participate in sports, 38 percent of their parents reported that no such programs existed. Resolving disability issues in sports requires developing a sense of awareness, as well as respect and acceptance for those with physical and intellectual disabilities.
Discrimination
Although Article 30.5 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities exists to ensure the rights of disabled people with regard to participation in sports, RightToPlay.org reports that discriminatory attitudes remain. In cases of mainstream sports in which athletes play on the same team regardless of the presence or absence of any disability, attitudes regarding the ability or capability of disabled players as well as safety concerns may prevail, limiting participation. When the sport is disability-specific, facility issues, equal practice time and finding knowledgeable coaches are often an issue.
Stigma
Stereotypes, attitudes, assumptions and perceptions often combine to create a stigma around people with disabilities. The internal and external barriers these lead to regarding sports participation can cause a disabled person to see himself as less worthy and cause society to practice discrimination. This is especially true for disabled women; gender can compound stigmas surrounding sports participation. According to RightToPlay.com, about 7 percent of women with disabilities exercise regularly or participate in any type of sport.
Opportunity
Participation in sporting activities is significantly lower in disabled people, a fact that CollegeSportsScholarships.com says may relate more to lack of opportunity than to lack of motivation. This may be because while competitive organizations are available on a national and international level, fewer "grassroots" opportunities exist within individual communities.
Safety
Assumptions and attitudes, including those of your doctor, often take precedence over facts when it comes to assessing the risk factor disabled athletes face. In their book "Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: Principles and Practice-Volume 1," Joel A. DeLisa et al identify two common errors in thinking -- at opposite ends of the spectrum -- which often occur when evaluating the risk potential of sports participation. The first is that no risk exists; the second is that too many exist. Although sports injuries are a risk all athletes face, according to DeLisa et al, the general risk for a disabled person is no higher because of her disability. However, when they do occur, injuries tend to keep disabled athletes on the sidelines longer. Rather than attributing this to active participation, DeLisa et al identify ineffective coaching methods and lack of access to knowledgeable medical care as the primary cause.
References
- Women's Sports Foundation: Women's Sports and Fitness Facts and Statistics
- Right To Play: Sport and Persons with Disabilities-Fostering Inclusion and Well-Being
- College Sports Scholarships: Report Reveals That Disabled Children Take Part in Less Sport Than Their Able-Bodied Counterparts
- "Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: Principles and Practice-Volume 1"; Joel A DeLisa, Bruce M. Gans, Nicholas E. Walsh; 2005
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