Start Date
24-4-2025 12:00 AM
Description
My project is an exploration of the barriers to sports participation that disabled individuals face aside from their disability itself. The first barrier to sports participation that you might experience as a disabled individual would likely be psychological. Negative societal perceptions and portrayals of disabled people can diminish the confidence and self-belief necessary to pursue new athletic activities. Activities surrounding sports participation aside from the sport itself can be more time consuming for disabled athletes- getting ready before leaving the house, changing into the right clothes, and getting equipment on and together can take much longer for someone who is disabled. People with disabilities also experience transportation barriers, and it can be hard for disabled athletes to find transportation that is not only accessible and available, but also coincides with the times that they have training or practice. Disabled athletes can experience barriers to physical access (such as inaccessible entrances, surfaces, locker rooms and bathrooms, etc.) as well as non-physical access (finding coaches or trainers who have experience working with disabled athletes, finding guide runners or tappers, access to competition, etc.). In addition to these, there are also a plethora of financial barriers to sports participation that disabled individuals face.
Recommended Citation
Nelson, Bri, "Barriers to Sports Participation Faced by Disabled Individuals" (2025). 2025 Student Academic Showcase. 1.
https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/src_2025/Posters/Posters/1
Included in
Barriers to Sports Participation Faced by Disabled Individuals
My project is an exploration of the barriers to sports participation that disabled individuals face aside from their disability itself. The first barrier to sports participation that you might experience as a disabled individual would likely be psychological. Negative societal perceptions and portrayals of disabled people can diminish the confidence and self-belief necessary to pursue new athletic activities. Activities surrounding sports participation aside from the sport itself can be more time consuming for disabled athletes- getting ready before leaving the house, changing into the right clothes, and getting equipment on and together can take much longer for someone who is disabled. People with disabilities also experience transportation barriers, and it can be hard for disabled athletes to find transportation that is not only accessible and available, but also coincides with the times that they have training or practice. Disabled athletes can experience barriers to physical access (such as inaccessible entrances, surfaces, locker rooms and bathrooms, etc.) as well as non-physical access (finding coaches or trainers who have experience working with disabled athletes, finding guide runners or tappers, access to competition, etc.). In addition to these, there are also a plethora of financial barriers to sports participation that disabled individuals face.