The unique ability of sports to transcend linguistic, cultural and social barriers makes it an excellent platform for strategies of inclusion and adaptation. Sport, by its very nature, is a driver of people's awareness, an intelligent tool that can enhance individuals by focusing on the distinctive qualities that they have developed over time. This is why it is important to focus on the therapeutic and inclusive power of sport, especially when considering the issue of disability.
DISABILITY AND SPORT
The disability is commonly associated with functional limitations, which is the main reason for lack of participation in sports. Le Clair (2011) states that disability is “often equated with inferiority and deficiency rather than a neutral difference that may require some adaptation”.
According to WHO (2016) is the ‘disability’ an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions. This definition is in line with the bio-psychosocial model of disability, which uses the following components to conceptualize disability: activity, body structures and functions, participation, environmental factors and personal factors. In this context, a change in one component means a shift in the entire net of components, which makes the model applicable for the assessment and interpretation of sport dynamics.
World Health Organization refers in its World Report on Disability 2011 to around 785 million (15,6%) persons aged 15 years and older worldwide living with some form of disability, with about 110 millions of them experiencing considerable difficulties in functioning.
In the European Union there is an estimated number of around 80 million disabled people, i.e. 15% of the entire population. Considering a higher risk of disability at older ages and global increase in chronic health conditions, which will influence the nature and prevalence of disability, the number of people facing disability may even increase (WHO, World report on disability, 2011). This implies that European countries will face further challenges regarding disability in the future.
Persons with disabilities often face societal barriers and disability evokes negative perceptions and discrimination. As a result of “with disability associated stigma”, persons with disabilities are generally excluded from mainstream education, employment and community life which deprives them of opportunities essential to their social development, health and well-being. In some societies persons with disabilities are considered dependent and seen as incapable, thus fostering inactivity which often causes individuals with physical disabilities to experience restricted mobility beyond the cause of their disability.
- Sport can help reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with disability through transforming community attitudes about persons with disabilities by highlighting their skills and reducing the tendency to see the disability first, instead of the person.
- Participation in sport plays a significant role in personal development. It improves physiological and mental functioning and gives rise to feelings of physical, psychological and social competence. It is enjoyable as well and can increase a person's resistance to stress. Through physical exercise and sport people can learn values and habits such as perseverance, constancy and competitiveness, fair play and sportsmanship.
- Sport plays a role in facilitating social participation, friendship and inclusion. It can be important in generating goodwill within and between diverse groups, places and countries. It is thought that physical exercise and sport can be used to contribute to a range of societal goals such as increasing community regeneration and social capital and reducing truancy and youth crime.
- Positive effects of physical activity in persons with learning and physical and sensory disability that have been demonstrated include improvements in general health, physical fitness, bone metabolism and increased functional independence. There is also increased mobility and a reduction in chronic disease and secondary complications.
- Physical activity also has a mitigating effect on challenging behavior (Moon et al, 1982; Lancioni et al, 1994 and 1998; Washburn et al, 2002; Nary et al, 2000 cited by Boland, 2005).
- Physical exercise is important in maintaining fitness for daily living, reducing functional limitations, facilitating independent living and preventing, delaying and reducing chronic illnesses and secondary conditions (Fentem, 1994).
- In people who have acquired a disability, participation in sport/physical exercise can help them come to terms with their disability, regain self-esteem and social integration (Chawla, 1994).
DISABILITY AND SPORT
The disability is commonly associated with functional limitations, which is the main reason for lack of participation in sports. Le Clair (2011) states that disability is “often equated with inferiority and deficiency rather than a neutral difference that may require some adaptation”.
According to WHO (2016) is the ‘disability’ an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions. This definition is in line with the bio-psychosocial model of disability, which uses the following components to conceptualize disability: activity, body structures and functions, participation, environmental factors and personal factors. In this context, a change in one component means a shift in the entire net of components, which makes the model applicable for the assessment and interpretation of sport dynamics.
World Health Organization refers in its World Report on Disability 2011 to around 785 million (15,6%) persons aged 15 years and older worldwide living with some form of disability, with about 110 millions of them experiencing considerable difficulties in functioning.
In the European Union there is an estimated number of around 80 million disabled people, i.e. 15% of the entire population. Considering a higher risk of disability at older ages and global increase in chronic health conditions, which will influence the nature and prevalence of disability, the number of people facing disability may even increase (WHO, World report on disability, 2011). This implies that European countries will face further challenges regarding disability in the future.
Persons with disabilities often face societal barriers and disability evokes negative perceptions and discrimination. As a result of “with disability associated stigma”, persons with disabilities are generally excluded from mainstream education, employment and community life which deprives them of opportunities essential to their social development, health and well-being. In some societies persons with disabilities are considered dependent and seen as incapable, thus fostering inactivity which often causes individuals with physical disabilities to experience restricted mobility beyond the cause of their disability.
“SocPORT aims to involve social sector and national human rights institutions to a greater extent in combating discrimination in sport, promote their co-operation in running awareness-raising activities, and authorize these bodies to participate in legal actions brought to improve access to sport for all.
This project showcases best practices from across Europe at international, state and local level and present how Special Olympics, sport clubs and NGOs can use sport as a tool to cultivate tolerance and social inclusion sharing expertise between relevant stakeholders at international, national and local level." |
OBJECTIVES
Priorities and general objective:
- encourage social inclusion and equal opportunities in sport
- project has focuses on changing the paradigm, bringing children with disabilities from the margins to become integral members of the sporting community.
- to increase the sport participation of children with a disability, and thereby to increase the social inclusion of this group.
Specific objectives are:
- Strategic planning social inclusion and equal opportunities to improve management and activities in sport
- Promote opportunities and innovative programs for participation, training and competition
- Raising awareness, training activities and community building process are therefore needed to stop discrimination and stigma that children with ID faces in the sports sector and facilitate their access to the sport.
- Promote psychological and sociological factors including attitudes towards disability of parents, coaches, game officials and even people with disabilities themselves
- Promote efficient and effective management practices and access to sporting infrastructure including services, facilities and equipment;
- Promote stakeholder education;
- Increase ability to attract support from media, sponsors;
- Tackle cross-border threats to the integrity of grassroots sport and all kinds of intolerance and discrimination and tell your site visitors who you are. To edit, simply click directly on the text and add your own words. Use this text to go into more detail about your company.
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