SPORT
AND THE DISABLED
OBJECTIVES
By the end of this booklet you should be able to:-
1] Know what events changed society’s attitude towards the disabled.
2] Know what features have been considered in designing sports facilities with the needs of the disabled in mind.
3] Know what three main categories of activities and sport, disabled persons can take part in.
4] Know what campaigns have set out to focus attention on the disabled and what the aims of these campaigns were.
5] Know what groups were thought to have need for special attention.
6] Look at existing sports facilities in Nottinghamshire, looking at their suitability for the disabled.
SPORT AND THE DISABLED
The aims of sport encompass the same principles for disabled people as they do for all the able-bodies. In addition sport has an immense therapeutic value and plays a great part in physical, psychological and social rehabilitation. The severity of a person’s handicap determines their training and participation in sport. With new technology most games can be adapted for disabled people and rules may be modified to accommodate the nature of a disability.
The attitude of society towards disabled people had been very negative until the end of World War II, which left thousands of people disabled and changed peoples attitude towards disability.
In July 1948 the Stoke Mandeville Games was founded as an annual Sports Festival for the paralysed. The Games took place on the day the Olympic Games in London showing the public that sport was not the privilege of the able-bodied. These games have continued to develop for all disabled people and every four years are held in the same country as the Olympic games.
When designing new sports facilities consideration is now given to the needs of the disabled. To allow them greater access facilities such as ramps, lifts, adequate changing areas and deck-level swimming pools have been included along with access to social and refreshment areas.
There are three main categories of activities and sport which disabled persons can take part in:-
1] Those in which they compete on equal terms with little or no modification e.g. bowls, archery.
2] Existing sports modified e.g. wheelchair basketball.
3] Sports activities specifically designed for disabled people e.g. goal bell for the visually impaired.
Integration of disabled people into sporting activities has led to their inclusion in events such as the London Marathon. Other events which have assisted integration include:-
UNITED NATIONS YEAR OF DISABLED PEOPLE 1981
SPORTS COUNCIL CAMPAIGN - SPORT FOR ALL - DISABLED PEOPLE
THERE WERE 4 MAIN AIMS OF THIS CAMPAIGN - WHAT WERE THEY?
[Use ‘Sport Examined’]
Three particular groups were thought to have been neglected and needed special attention.
1] PEOPLE WITH A MENTAL HANDICAP
2] THOSE WITH PROGRESSIVE DISEASES
3] THE ELDERLY DISABLED
There has been a great deal of success with such campaigns. In Britain great encouragement has been given to wheelchair athletes by their inclusion in a number of long distance races. For the disabled athletes at sport, there is the opportunity to compete in the SPECIAL OLYMPICS FOR THE DISABLED
Nevertheless, a great deal remains to be done before the slogan SPORT FOR ALL achieves its full meaning.
1] SELECT THREE GAMES AND STATE HOW THEY COULD BE MODIFIED FOR DISABLED SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN.
2] DESIGN A SPORTS ACTIVITY WHICH COULD BE PLAYED BY PEOPLE WITH THE FOLLOWING DISABILITIES
a] VISUALLY IMPAIRED
b] LACK OF MOBILITY IN
i) One Limb
ii) Both Limbs
3] WHAT SPORTS COULD THE DISABLED COMPETE ON EQUAL TERMS WITH ABLE-BODIED SPORTSMEN/WOMEN.
4] THE LONDON MARATHON IS A SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLE OF HOW DISABLED PEOPLE CAN BE INTEGRATED INTO SPORT. SUGGEST WAYS OTHER SPORTING EVENTS COULD ENCOURAGE INTEGRATION.
5] LOOK AT EXISTING SPORTS FACILITIES IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE AND STATE:-
a) What facilities have been designed with the disabled in mind.
b) What should be done to existing facilities to accommodate the disabled.