INTRODUCTION
Almost 4 million Australians live with disabilities. If we add families, friends and colleagues,
the number of people affected by disability is larger still.
Almost 4 million Australians live with disabilities. If we add families, friends and colleagues,
the number of people affected by disability is larger still.
WHY BE ACTIVE?
Studies have documented that the health benefits of regular physical activity are the same for people with and without disabilities. However, it has been observed that people with disabilities participate less and have lower levels of fitness. Only 21% of females and 28% of males with disabilities in Australia participate in sufficient amounts of physical activity (ABS, 2008). |
Less active people have a greater risk of developing diseases such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and coronary heart disease.
Physical inactivity among people with a disability has also been linked to an increase in the severity of disability and a decreased involvement in the community.
Participating in sport and active recreation is important in reducing the likelihood of poor health and wellbeing. People with a disability can gain numerous mental and physical benefits from being physically active on a regular basis.
Workbook Activity - Identify benefits for disabled people engaging in physical activity? |
ATTITUDES & BARRIERS
It is widely recognised that people with disability face disadvantages in life. Although they
may experience physical barriers, often these disadvantages can be linked to other people’s
negative or poor attitude to disability.
It is widely recognised that people with disability face disadvantages in life. Although they
may experience physical barriers, often these disadvantages can be linked to other people’s
negative or poor attitude to disability.
These attitudes are often based on:
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Attitudes are reflected in how a person
acts, responds and behaves around someone with disability. Having a pitying ‘poor you’ attitude can be just as harmful to an athlete with disability. Concentrating on what a person with disability cannot do perpetuates a negative attitude. |
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/0/6/130685534/editor/inaccesible-curb-5.jpg?1654683071)
People with disabilities experience a range of challenges in everyday life due to negative attitudes and lack of accessibility in work, recreation, and sport.
Workbook Activity: Can you identify 10 of these challenges.
Workbook Activity: Can you identify 10 of these challenges.
When coaching athletes with disability it is essential to concentrate on what they can do
rather than what they can’t. Rather than asking ‘Why should I include?’ you should ask, ‘How can I include?’
rather than what they can’t. Rather than asking ‘Why should I include?’ you should ask, ‘How can I include?’
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Read the following file on including disabled people in sport and recreation, and answer the following questions.
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What opportunities do we have for disabled sports in our area?
Overcoming the barriers and having the goals and motivation to be successful in sports takes strong character, but believing in yourself and having the opportunity go a long way in achieving your goals
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Disabled Athletes and Barriers
Watch the 3 clips on ‘Australia’s Paralympians’ and for the athletes examine their story and the barriers (things that make being an athlete difficult) they faced. Write down the barriers they faced in your workbook. |
What are disabled sports?
Disabled sports also adaptive sports or parasports, are sports played by persons with a disability, including physical and intellectual disabilities. As many disabled sports are based on existing able bodied sports, modified to meet the needs of persons with a disability, they are sometimes referred to as adapted sports.
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Disability exists in four categories: physical, mental, permanent and temporary.
Since 1988, the International Olympic Committee have chosen to validate Disabled Sports (physical disabilities) and incorporate it as a part of the Games: the staging of the Paralympic Games immediately follows the Olympic Games. This scheduling helps to foster greater interest in disabled sports. |
Use the links below to access clips relating to Winter and Summer Paralympic sports.
Research ONE winter and ONE summer sport and complete the TWO tables on the followings below.
Winter Sports
Winter Sport Name |
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Description of game |
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Modifications- changes to rules and equipment |
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Adapted from which sport - what things are the same. |
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Who Participates(type of Impairment) |
Summer Sports
Summer Sport Name |
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Description of game |
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Modifications- changes to rules and equipment |
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Adapted from which sport- what things are the same |
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Who participates (type of impairment) |
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Find a memorable moment from a Paralympics and paste the link here. A you tube clip is fine
The Moment (Name) –
In 25 words why did you choose this moment
The Moment (Name) –
In 25 words why did you choose this moment