Sports and Disability Inclusion

Key points by Ioanna Georgia Eskiadi

In this webinar we discussed sports and disability inclusion, and ways to promote and encourage the presence and integration of people with disabilities in sports. Sports are really important for people with disabilities, as participation allows them to augment their physical and interpersonal skills, gain confidence and inspire their communities by transforming attitudes and reducing stigmas. Integration and inclusion of athletes with intellectual disabilities into sports empowers them, their teammates, and sports organizations at large. Through the last years the number of athletes with intellectual disabilities has drastically increased, and at the same time the training of their coaches has not grown at the same rate. The lack of knowledge about the challenges faced by persons with intellectual disabilities, such as their schooling options, living accommodations, the type and quality of health care they receive, opportunities for gainful employment, and their ability to participate in a meaningful way in their communities and society as a whole is detrimental to the training and development of the athlete.

Challenges facing people with disabilities, especially in sports, change over time. Society looks different to people with disabilities and every athlete has a different ability. Coaches have to build a team and understand that these people want to compete and win. The training process has to bring an understanding and empathy. Also, in this process of inclusion, family members should be involved. There’s a need of a unified approach and for competition which provides visibility to all of these people. Sports can bring a sense of liberty, and help them be accepted in the community as a part of it. Two main foci are inclusion and independence. In sports you find different places for people with disabilities, away from the others and this is the problem. Inclusion must involve being together with others in the school, in the neighborhood, and in the stadium. Every society should work in this content. When you give them this chance you give them the value of difference and the importance of treating them as people. Regarding independence, we should include children with disabilities in school and teach our kids from an early age the value of differences. Learn to accept others with differences. In the end, we are all different. Make people with special needs feel a part of our society and of our life.

Key points

● Need for skillful and well-trained coaches.

● Sports as a way to build skills, teamwork, and communication.

● Need for motivation of athletes and to provide positive sports experiences.

● Cooperation with families and the community to maximize the effectiveness of sports.

● Change negative societal perceptions and practices surrounding athletes with intellectual disabilities.

● Need to be seen from the society, from the community, and from the state.

● Community involvement and sports are a unifier.

● Main focus of coaches should be integration and inclusion.

● Teach kids the importance of valuing differences.

● Make people with special needs part of our society and of our life.

The discussion

Speakers:

Iman Sabbagh is the President of Adaptive Sport Center in Lebanon.

Manisha Verma is Manager Research Training and Development of Skill Council for Persons with Disability in India.

Dave Lenox is President & CEO of Special Olympics in USA.

Charles Nyambe is the President and Managing Director of Special Olympics International in Africa Region.

Mouhamed Mounir is Education Specialist of Moroccan Association of Persons with Down’s Syndrome in Morocco.

This webinar is part of World Learning’s International Sports Programming Initiative (ISPI) — Virtual Together program, a series of virtual events, launched in the context of the COVID-19 crisis. ISPI is a program of U.S. Department of State’s Sports Diplomacy division. The series aims to engage the sports community globally, to creatively problem solve, share digital tools and work together, follow health guidance, and continue to promote active, healthy lifestyles both physically and mentally throughout this crisis. Additional modules related to these objectives are being developed and will be announced.

The webinar is produced by Digital Communication Network, a diverse professional coalition in the digital space.