Access to Sports for People with Disabilities

By: Emily Frank

Issue: Access to sports for people with disabilities.

According to a 2013 article written by Jeffrey J. Martin about the benefits and barriers to physical activities for people with disabilities, opportunities for people with disabilities to play sports are limited and even when they exist, the opportunities can be illusionary. Some wheelchair basketball leagues prevent children with motorized wheelchairs from participating. Lack of accessibility to physical activity causes people with disabilities to live an unhealthy lifestyle.

Current state of issue:

According to a 2013 study by Jeffrey J. Martin about the benefits and barriers to physical activities for people with disabilities, attitudes held by the public are a barrier to achieving social inclusion for people with disabilities. It is difficult for a person with a disability to participate in sports with people without disabilities, putting athletes in an isolating position. There are individual, social, and environmental barriers to sports. People with disabilities often are generalized, when in reality, every person with a disability is different and needs different resources in order to play sports. Programs only target certain needs, which excludes many people with disabilities.

A brief history:

According to a historical profile of Ludwig Guttmann written by Rebecca Akkermans, after World War II, sports were promoted as a type of rehabilitation for injured war veterans. Ludwig Guttmann, a German-born Jewish doctor, organized the Stoke Mandeville Games during the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. The Games were for disabled veterans at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital. Guttmann Games then became an international competition for disabled athletes and evolved into the modern Paralympics. Access to sports for people with disabilities was unheard of before Guttmann’s movement.

The differing viewpoint of the issue:

Benefits of better access to sports for people with disabilities:

According to a 2015 study conducted by Jakub Niedbalski about the process of becoming an active disabled person, by performing a sport, people with disabilities can undergo self-discovery, self-acceptance, improvement in body conditions, and increased mental and physical health.

Disadvantages of better access to sports for people with disabilities:

According to a 2008 journal written by Kevin Wong about expensive technology and funding in the sports disability world, accessible venues and specialized equipment is expensive and time consuming. Furthermore, sports fans question whether some people with disabilities have an advantage when competing with able-bodied athletes due to technology use.