INCLUSION IN SPORT
DISABILITY & LONG-TERM HEALTH CONDITIONS

Local data tells us that a person who considers themself to have a disability, long-term or life-limiting health condition is more likely to be physically inactive. This inequality significantly increases with the number or complexity of impairments a person has.  In Jersey, 59% of people with a disability are inactive compared to 42% of people without a disability. This is significantly higher than trends in England, where 41% of people with a disability are inactive compared to 20.9% of people without a disability.

(Source: Activity Alliance Annual Disability and Activity Survey 2022-23. Research briefing).

We know from feedback people with a disability want to be more active, proving the need and demand for improved access to local sport and physical activity opportunities. The challenge is that there is often no single or a quick answer to address many of these barriers. Whilst this may be the case, it is important to note it is not essential to know or understand every disability, condition or impairment; but a flexible approach, adaptable nature and understanding of the barriers to participation is key.

BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION

• A lack of early experience in sport if born with a disability, long-term health condition or life-limiting illness
• Limited opportunities to access appropriate and/or inclusive programmes, training and competitions
• A lack of accessible equipment, facilities or location
• Limited accessible transportation
• Challenges communicating thoughts, feelings and needs
• Negative experiences in the past and a fear of being judged or excluded by others
• A lack of confidence to ask for help or enter a new setting
• Being unaware of accessible opportunities
• Changes to mental health
• Being more socially isolated
• Having less support from friends, family and paid support workers
• Attitudes towards people with disabilities, from parents, coaches, teachers and even other people with disabilities themselves
• A lack of awareness or education from others about how they can support or adapt their offer to accommodate

Each person is different, and so how each person is affected and impacted by their disability, long-term health condition or life-limiting illness is also different. There isn’t a one-size-fits all approach, which is why it is important to speak to each person and listen to their individual needs.

Participants with a disability, long-term health condition or life-limiting illness don’t want to be labelled or segregated, and sometimes the only support they need is reassurance they can go at their own pace, stop and take a breath when they need.

Sport England have created a map which provides an overview of disability to inform and direct strategy and delivery in the UK. More information can be found online: Sport England – Mapping Disability – The Facts

UNCONSCIOUS BIAS

Classifying individuals or groups by their disability, long-term health condition or life-limiting illness, can create a separation of “US” and “THEM” which can provoke prejudice.

Often, this bias occurs subconsciously, and we jump to conclusions without having the knowledge or information to support our immediate or instinctive thought processes. An example of this could be making judgments on someone’s ability due to their physical impairment. These unconscious biases ultimately can affect inclusion, as the focus becomes on the impairment and what the individual can’t do, as opposed to the person’s capabilities and what they can do.

Jersey Sport offer upskilling opportunities to help islanders be more aware of their unconscious bias and how to minimise any negative impact on access to participation in local sport and physical activity settings. Details of upcoming workshops can be found online:  Understanding Unconscious Bias • Jersey Sport

LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION

Using effective language and communication is one of the most significant factors when creating an inclusive environment. It is often the first touch point for many new participants and sets an immediate tone of promoting a welcoming and empowering experience.

We are all human and learning every day, so participants would rather you try to use inclusive language than not communicate at all. If in doubt, always ask the person directly what language, phrase or terms they would like to be used, or speak with their family or friends if they have difficulty communicating themselves.

For example, ‘disabled’ is a descriptive word, not a term used for a group of people. Some people therefore don’t identity with the term ‘disability’, so it might be more appropriate to use ‘condition’ or ‘impairment’.

Everyone is different, and as a result not everyone will agree or like certain language, phrases or terms. This is why it is important to always check and ask what that person or group of people feel happy with. There are lots of other organisations, stakeholders and charities (many of them listed within this resource) that can provide professional help and guidance, too.

Here are some basic language guidelines that may help your sport organisation be more inclusive:

Useful Resources and Training

• Guidance for inclusive language – Inclusive language – Home Office Design System
• Inclusive marketing and communications – Inclusive marketing and communications | Programmes | Activity Alliance
• The importance of inclusive language – Definitions and language | our work | Activity Alliance
• How to talk about disability – Scope house style guide | Disability charity Scope UK
• Inclusive communication resources – Resources | Activity Alliance | Disability Sport
• How to structure communications effectively – Sport England – Mapping Disability

SUPPORT FROM ORGANISATIONS TO MAKE SPORT MORE INCLUSIVE

1) English Federation of Disability Sport

In 2014, the English Federation of Disability Sport released their ‘Talk to Me’ report which outlined 10 principles that sport providers could follow to help make their sport or activity more appealing to people with a disability:

‘Talk to Me’ to get me active

• My channels
• My locality
• Me, not my impairment
• My life story
• Include me
• Welcome me
• My values
• Reassure me
• Listen to me
• Show me

More information and support for each of these themes can be found online: Talk_to_Me_principles_in_action_Nov_2015

2) Sport England

When looking to engage people with a disability in new or existing activities, sports organisations should also consider some key elements:

• Location – is it accessible for those with mobility issues or visual/hearing impairments? Is it accessible by public transport?
• Coaches and Volunteers – are they understanding of people’s individual and different needs? They don’t need to be experts or have any certain training to offer an inclusive activity.
• Activities – is it possible to adapt the activity in a way that does not single anyone out or put others at a disadvantage?

Sport England have developed a practical guide for organisers of grassroots community sport, which provides helpful tools to making sports organisations more inclusive: Mapping Disability_Engaging_July 2016

3) Activity Alliance

The Activity Alliance are the leading sport and activity voice for people with a disability. They are able to support with:

• Practical examples of how to adapt sport and physical activity delivery using the STEP tool
• Ways to engage people with a disability within your sports organisation
• Improving places and spaces
• Promoting sport and activity
• Training upskilling your workforce
• Research

The STEP tool is a great way to adapt activities so that more people can get involved. STEP stands for Space, Task, Equipment and People. The links below contain more helpful information:

• What is the STEP tool? Adapting activities | Activity Alliance
• STEP tips for organisations and activity providers pdf (activityalliance.org.uk)
• STEP tips for disabled people, families and friends pdf (activityalliance.org.uk)

‘Get out Get Active’ is another initiative that supports people with and without a disability to enjoy being active together. Learning resources that explain how sports organisations can successfully support inactive people to take part in sport and physical activity are online:

• Part 1: What – Get Out Get Active learning resources part 1 | Resources | Activity Alliance
• Part 2: Who – Get Out Get Active learning resources part 2 | Resources | Activity Alliance
• Part 3: How – Get Out Get Active learning resources part 3 | Resources | Activity Alliance
• Part 4: What Next – Get Out Get Active learning resources part 4 | Resources | Activity Alliance

4) Sense

Sense help people with deaf blindness or complex disabilities to communicate, experience the world and fulfil their potential.

The ‘Sense Active’ online resources and workshops are dedicated to empowering people with complex disabilities to lead active and healthy lives. They exist to help coaches, teachers and support staff provide a sensory experience for people who are deafblind or disabled. Some examples include:

• Sensory exercises to improve mobility and coordination
• How to engage people with complex disabilities in sport
• Delivering games and activities with little or no equipment in any sized space
• Exploring inclusive yoga
• Advice on planning walks and encouraging mindfulness to help make being outside a positive sensory experience
• Sensory football toolkit to develop meaningful football activities
• Sensory tennis guide for professionals

More information can be found online: Sense Active for professionals – Sense

The Sense Active Report released in 2022 provided recommendations sport and physical activity providers can use to encourage physical activity participation for children with complex disabilities. The report’s highlights included:

• Provide physical activity opportunities by need and categorise by intensity or ability instead of age so activities can be easily identified
• Develop and design physical activity sessions utilising a co-creation, person-centred approach, ensuring access and engagement in suitable activities for a range of complex disabilities. Specifically:
  • Sessions should be flexible in structure, delivery style and timing
  • Collect continuous feedback to modify activity frequency and type based on what is most popular
  • Ensure the availability of in-person sessions
  • Provide sessions in different formats (digital and online)
  • Ensure there are appropriate numbers of delivery, support staff or volunteers to aid with practicalities of equipment manoeuvring and lifting of children (particularly older children) which can help provide better activity opportunities for older children with complex disabilities (e.g. 13+).
• Ensure communication of physical activity opportunities is clear and detailed to allow parents, carers and children to prepare appropriately in advance. In particular, provide detail on:
  • Content – what the session involves, including exercises, activities and structure
  • Ability level – what ability or intensity level is targeted
  • Adaptation – adaptation for different disability needs and which needs the session is most suitable for
  • Accessibility – of the facilities or location if the session is held in person, such as information on wheelchair access, parking distances, hoists and accessible changing rooms
• Provide and improve support networks for parents and carers to allow opportunities for individuals to socially connect and receive information, guidance and advice from others experiencing similar situations or whose children might have similar needs
• Ensure physical activity sessions are being led by appropriate individuals who have the confidence, competence and interpersonal abilities to adapt sessions to cater towards need and build positive relationships with participants

The full report can be viewed online: Sense Active report 2022 – Sense

5) International Mixed Ability Sport

International Mixed Ability Sport exist to radically change the way we think of, join in and enjoy sports, leading to a fairer and more equal society. They aim to bring people of all abilities together to play sports and learn from each other, giving everyone the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

Mixed Ability is a social movement within sports, actively promoting inclusion and equality through a sense of belonging and membership to a group, team or club. In Mixed Ability, people are encouraged to participate together, within their clubs, focusing on what people can do.  Mixed Ability sports follow the same rule of mainstream sports without adaptations or different regulations, with only minor adjustments to take into account individual participants’ needs.

More information about the resources, support and training available can be found online: International Mixed Ability Sports

6) British Blind Sport

British Blind Sport works in partnership with National Governing Bodies to help support and develop sport and physical activity to ensure that facilities are accessible to every blind or partially sighted person in the UK, with the intention of improving their physical health and self-esteem.

They provide educational training and resources to ‘See Sport Differently’, as well as practical toolkits to help sports organisations to make their sport more accessible.

More information about the resources, support and training available can be found online: Home | British Blind Sport

7) Sure Breaking Limits

This global initiative aims to empower millions of young people with confidence and opportunities to move and change their lives through the power of movement. The Breaking Limits coaching series equips teachers and mentors that work with disadvantaged youth with the knowledge and tools on how to use sport and movement to develop critical life skills such as confidence, teamwork and resilience. Some of Sure’s projects include:

• Girls Football – The new specialised course, supported by FIFA, is designed to upskill coaches and mentors, providing ready-to-use session plans that tackle key confidence issues girls face when playing football.
• Multi-Sport – Upskilling coaches on topics around gender equality, disabilities, LGBTQ+, mental well-being, women’s sport, intellectual disabilities, anti-bias, access, engagement, goals, voices, choices, confidence and opportunity.

More information about the resources, support and training available can be found online: Breaking Limits Through The Power of Movement | Sure® UK 

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT, RESOURCES AND TRAINING

• Disability Strategy for Jersey: R Disability Strategy For Jersey Standard Version 20170525 DS.pdf (gov.je)
• JACS and Citizens Advice Jersey’s practical disability discrimination guide – pdf (citizensadvice.je)
• Scope UK’s Social Model of Disability: Social model of disability | Disability charity Scope UK
• 21 games and sports to get children moving in their wheelchair – Games and Sports to Get Your Child Moving in a Wheelchair (gympanzees.org)
• Accessible evaluation resource designs – Disabled people | Sport England
• Inclusive employers deliver events, workshops and online resources – Inclusive Employers – experts in workplace inclusion
• Alternative to table tennis for young people who have higher support needs – Polybat-how-to-play-YST-resource.pdf (ohs.oxon.sch.uk)
• Support for teachers or School staff to review and improve their inclusive physical education and School Sport delivery – Inclusion 2024 Inclusive PE hub (activityalliance.org.uk)
• Panathlon – provides competitive sporting opportunities to children with disabilities and special educational needs – Panathlon Challenge | Competitive sport for children with SEND
• YouTube channel offers virtual multi-skills challenges – (35) Panathlon1 – YouTube
• The Golf Trust brings people together through golf, specifically targeting people with a disability, older adults and low socio-economic communities – The Golf Trust
• England Rounders’ Inclusive Rounders resources- FREE-Inclusive-Rounders.pdf (roundersengland.co.uk)
• Local Autism Awareness Training through Autism Jersey – Autism Awareness — Autism Jersey
• Wheel Power, the National Chairty for Wheelchair Sport, provides training on how to engage wheelchair participants in sport – Training Courses – WheelPower
• JSAD is a local charitable organisation that exists to provide support and encouragement to participants with a disability who wish to take part in sport. – Jersey Sports Association for the Disabled – Latest News (jsad.eu)
• Enable Jersey are Jersey’s ‘all-embracing’ disability charity- Enable Jersey – Life Without Limits
• Jersey Childcare Trust are passionate about enabling all children in Jersey to have the best start in life- Programmes & Services | Jersey Child Care Trust (jcct.org.je)