4. Medical & Social
Models
Medical Model
A person is disabled
because they use a
wheelchair and
cannot climb a flight
of steps into a
building.
Social Model
A person is disabled
because they use a
wheelchair and a
ramp is not provided
to access the
building.
5. Barriers to
Participation
National statistics - lowest participation rates
for disabled people
Taking Part & Active People surveys –
8.8 – 9.5% disabled adults in regular moderate
activity (pop. average 21%)
(Sport England, 2006; DCMS, 2007)
44% of disabled young people not regularly
physically active (12% non-disabled)
(Sport England, 2001)
6. Barriers to
Participation
Key barriers to participation identified by
disabled people themselves;
Adults - Health Problems (74%), Lack of
money (5%), Lack of time (5%) (Sport England, 2002)
Young People – Disability/Health (58%),
Lack of ‘disabled’ sports facilities (18%),
Lack of adult’s time/supervision (14%)
(Sport England, 2001)
7. Terminology
Group exercise
Avoid old fashioned references
Don’t get ‘hung up’ on being politically
correct…
No-one gets it right all the time…
8. Stereotypes &
Assumptions
Myths and fears promoted by media
industries
Attitudes of local and national media
Ask the right questions AND listen to the
answers!
10. Disability Sport
History/Overview
Disability sport as we know it credited to Sir
Ludwig Guttmann who started sport as a rehab
venture at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, post
WWII.
First international games held in 1948
First ‘official’ Paralympics in 1952
First Paralympics held in same city as
Olympics in 1988
Most sports now compete at national and
international level, some in direct involvement
with non-disabled counterpart organisations.
11. Introduction to
Classification
Classification is not exclusive to disabled
sport
Examples: Judo – weight classes,
Fencing – male, female, junior, veterans,
Swimming – by discipline.
It’s aim in disability sport is to achieve fair
and equitable competition.
12. Classification cont…
There are two main forms of
classification in disabled sport:
Medical
Functional
Recent developments include
implementing points systems to increase
participation in individual events and
make them more ‘spectator friendly’
13. Classification cont…
Minimal Disability
Is an entry level which describes the
minimal level of disability/injury to allow
eligibility to participate in disability sport.
15. Classification cont…
Volume of action- example w/c basketball
Vertical plane – rotating trunk to left or right
whilst maintaining an upright position
Forward plane – bending trunk forwards
reaching hands towards the feet & returning to
upright position
Sideways plane – leaning trunk to left or right
without movement in forward plane & returning
to upright position
16. Classification cont…
Minimal disability – definition (example)
Usually: must meet the following criteria:
A) a wheelchair basketball player is unable to run, pivot
or jump at speed and with the control of an able-bodied
player;
B) a wheelchair basketball player has a permanent
physical disability in the lower limb/s which can be
objectively verified by an acknowledged medical and/or
paramedical investigation such as measurement, x-ray,
CT scan, MRI scan, etc…
N.b: degrees of pain are not considered as measurable
and permanent disabilities.
17. Classification cont…
Wheelchair Basketball Points system
Each player is awarded a point value
based on classification from 1pt to 4.5pts
with .5pt increments between each class
Functional classification is polarised to
achieve final classification
Review process followed/appeal
18. Classification cont…
IPC recognises 6 different disability groups:
1. amputees
2. athletes with Cerebral Palsy (CP)
3. blind or visually impaired athletes
4. spinal cord injured athletes
5. athletes with an intellectual/learning
disability
6. other athletes (les autres) with a physical
disability who do not fit into the above 5
categories.
19. Ethical Issues
Minimal disability…? Where do you draw
the line?
Non disabled competitors in disability
sport…? Inclusion/reverse
discrimination?
Cheating…?
Substance use/Boosting
Do we really need classification?
20. Summary – Q&A
Medical & social models
Barriers to participation
Terminology
Stereotypes
Disability sport – history, classification,
ethics
Any questions?