A new report from the Activity Alliance in the UK shines a light on non-disabled people’s attitudes on inclusive activity with disabled people. Although the results show welcoming signs of improvement, ingrained perceptions are creating barriers in changing the reality of disability, inclusion and sport.

Activity Alliance, with support from Sport England commissioned this project. It follows a number of studies by the national charity to examine perceptions among those with an influence on disabled people’s activity. These have covered disabled people themselves, disabled people’s supporters and those who deliver sport and activity.

Taking part with disabled people: Non-disabled people’s perceptions is the result of an online survey conducted with more than 2,000 non-disabled people. Focused on the concept of inclusive activity, in which disabled and non-disabled people take part together, it examined respondents’ perceptions and experiences.

The findings present a varied picture, indicating non-disabled people’s perceptions could be preventing them from taking part in a mixed setting.

Recommendations

Activity Alliance has developed three recommendations and required actions for sport, leisure and other sectors to address the issued raised in this report. These could help to ensure that non-disabled people are both able and willing to participate alongside their disabled peers. The recommendations include:

1.  Increase public awareness of disabled people, especially in relation to being active. This must aim to challenge perceptions and create a more accurate and diverse picture of active disabled people among their non-disabled peers.
2. Embed inclusivity in many more opportunities so disabled and non-disabled people can be active together.
3. Celebrate and share experiences of inclusive activity with representation for all impairment groups.

Download the research report below and join the conversation on social media using #InclusiveActivity.

Download executive summary – accessible PDF

Download full research report – accessible PDF

For more information about the research please contact Elliott Johnson, Activity Alliance Research and Insight Manager, email Elliott

Source
Activity Alliance