Disability in

Sport
Discussion
Question
What are the different types of
disability that people may face?
  Persons with a disability include individuals with
physical, sensory, intellectual, psychiatric, and/or
other health related disabilities. Not all disabilities
are visible
 Disability should not exclude someone from
participation in appropriate sports and physical
Who are this activity.

minority?  Legally, Australians of all abilities should have

access to sport and physical activity opportunities.
 People with a disability receive the same physical,
mental, and social benefits from participating in
sport and physical activity as those not having a
disability.
 Sport was viewed as a way of helping rehabilitate i.e. for
injured war veterans or those with movement impairment

 Less than 25% of teenagers with a disability played sport in

comparison with 74% of able-bodied teenagers

 Some international sporting events existed: Paralympics How did it

(Began 1960), Special Olympics (1968)

 There weren’t many ways to get involved in sport in the

look 30
community as clubs didn't have adequate facilities and
equipment years ago?
 Participants were portrayed first and foremost as people with
disabilities and secondarily as sports people/athletes
  More accessible sporting facilities i.e.
wheelchair ramps, lifts, disabled toilets
 Better support equipment i.e. wheelchairs,
electronic support devices, prosthetics

How does it  More government funding for disability

sports programs
look now?  More sporting clubs exist for those with a
disability
 Better public education and greater
acceptance in the community
 Dylan Alcott Video

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqgjCNRN5lg
 Watch from 0:00 – 3:10
 Questions from video

 What were some of the barriers faced by Dylan?

 What were some positives of participation for Dylan?
 Barriers
• Although disability sports are becoming well known and more popular, there aren’t many coaches or clubs
Finding a club or coach around. 

• The sport you choose to participate in and the nature of your disability will determine the equipment you
High levels of cost will need. Disability sports sometimes require very specific equipment which can be expensive.

• To compete on a level playing field, athletes with similar levels of disability classified/grouped together.
Classifications This can be a particularly difficult process for those involved as they ranked and compared to others based
on their disability.

Accessibility & getting • Many sports venues are still not easily accessible for those with a disability. Equipment like wheelchairs

equipment to events and other walking aids also take up a lot of space and are not easy to transport to and from events.

• There are also still a lot of people that judge disabled people and assume disabled people can’t work, can’t
Fear of judgement do things for themselves. People with a disability fear that they may either be made fun of for participating
which has led to lower levels of physical activity.
 Paralympic Role Models

Matt Cowdrey – Swimming Neill Fuller – Running Louise Sauvage – Track Chair
1. WHAT HAS CHANGED OVER THE 2. IS THERE ENOUGH SUPPORT FOR 3. DO YOU THINK ATTITUDES
LAST 30 YEARS FOR THOSE WITH A THOSE WITH A DISABILITY IN TOWARDS PEOPLE WITH A
DISABILITY IN SPORT? SPORT? EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER. DISABILITY ARE CHANGING?
WHY/WHY NOT?

Discussion
Questions