2. Contents
Definition of disability
Prevalence
Background to Subject
Importance to Study
Coaching Disabled Athletes
3. Definition
What is disability?
Disability is defined as a physical, mental, or
psychological condition that limits a person’s
activities.
People can either be born
with a disability or they
can acquire it
5. Prevalence
According to the GSS (General Social Surveys), in
2006, nearly 40% (6.1 million) of Australians aged 18
years and over had a disability or long-term health
problem.
Physical limitations were the most common form of
disability (66% or 4 million), followed by sight,
hearing or speech (35% or 2.1 million). Just over half of
people with a disability (3.1 million) did not specify the
type of disability.
6. Prevalence
Participation in sport, by disability status and sex- 2002
and 2006 in Australia.
Source: ABS data available on request, General Social Survey, 2002 and
2006.
7. Background to subject
People with disability should be included in sports
People with disability should not be discriminated
People with disabilities are athletes too that have
needs, drives and goals.
Coaching them as well as any other athlete is a crucial
part for their development.
8. Background to Subject
There many organisations and associations in the
world that provide facilities and support to disabled
athletes.
There are also many sporting events for disabled
athletes to participate in such as Paralympics Games
being the biggest.
There are different sports for disabled athlete that they
can play or compete in.
10. Importance to study
An example of discrimination towards disabled people:
“Women with disabilities face double discrimination--
discrimination based on gender and discrimination
based disability. Women of colour who are disabled face
yet a third type of discrimination...The limited available
statistics suggest that economically, socially, and
psychologically, women with disabilities fare
considerably worse than either women who are
nondisabled or men who are disabled”. (Women and
Disability Awareness Project, 1989).
11. Importance to Study
Seigenthaler (1997) identified the benefits of leisure as:
Enhanced well being
Decreased stress levels
Improved quality of life
Improving social aspects
Schleien, Ray & Green (1997) team sports benefit
both disabled and abled athletes.
12. Importance to Study
So, including and coaching disabled athletes is a great
way to involve them in social and physical activities.
13. Barriers for participation in Sports
Pacirorek and Jones (1989) identified 4 barriers:
Equipment
Physical accessibility
Program modifications
Attitudes towards people with disabilities
14. Disability Sports Coach
provide high quality sporting opportunities for people with
disabilities throughout the UK.
provide coaching, training, events, and community clubs
to mainstream schools, special schools, clubs, charities &
other professional organisations.
supported and delivered to over 60,000 people with a
variety of disabilities.
worked with over 130 different organisations including,
Sport England, NGB’s, Local Authorities and individual
schools.
http://disabilitysportscoach.co.uk/
15. Coaching Disabled athletes
Having a good coach is crucial in development and
improvement of any athlete.
Working with disabled athletes, improves coaching
skills and benefit the coach.
As a coach it is important to treat your athletes equal
whether disabled or not.
16. Coaching a disabled athlete
It is important to have a positive first impression
Introduce the athlete with a disability and create
conditions for successful integration
For participants with intellectual disabilities, coach
should use developmentally appropriate activities
17. Coaching a disabled athlete
For the coach it is important to know the disability or
disabilities of the athlete they coach
Coach should focus on athletes ability
It is important for the coach to adapt the activities for
disabled athlete
Coach should establish good communication with
disabled athlete, get to know the athlete better.
18. Coaching a disabled athlete
It is important for the coach not to discriminate their
athletes
For example:
Thinking that an intellectually disabled athlete does
not understand
Sit down when talking to a
disabled athlete on a wheelchair
19. Coaching a disabled athlete
Coach should have in mind about transportation,
accessibility and facilities they provide for the disabled
athletes
20. Conclusion
It is important to understand that people with
disabilities should have equal opportunities and
treatment as people without disabilities. In particular
focusing in coaching and mentoring.
Coaches should help disabled athletes to enjoy the
activities they engage in as this will help the athlete to
carry the love of sport for the rest of their life.
