March 2014
Participants briefing: ILiS Solutions Series – “On Your Marks…!
disabled people’s equal participation in sport”
Where:
The Media Room, Emirates Arena, Glasgow
When:
17th of March 2014, 1.30pm – 5pm
Twitter:
Follow the discussion on Twitter #thesolutions
N.B. Pages 6 – 17 of this briefing are appendices. They provide
additional information.
1. Practical arrangements
Please arrive at the reception in the Emirates Arena, Glasgow on the
17th of March by 1.15pm.
Lunch will be served between 1.30pm and 2pm. The discussion will
run from 2pm to 4.30pm. There will be a short comfort break. You are
invited to stay for a networking drinks reception from 4.30pm – 5pm.
2. About ‘The Solutions Series’
The Independent Living in Scotland (ILiS) project is working with the
Scottish Government, disabled people and other key stakeholders on
the strategic interventions that will make independent living the reality for
disabled people in Scotland (see appendix 1 for detail on independent
living and human rights).
“The Solutions Series” which is hosted by ILiS is a series of solution
focused discussions – ‘pop up think tanks’ – designed to bring together
Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs), decision makers, academics,
public service leaders and other key experts from across Scotland and
beyond. Each pop up Think Tank in The Solutions Series will consider,
and seek solutions to, a specific issue which has been identified as
preventing or hindering progression of independent living in Scotland.
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March 2014
Each Solutions Series discussion results in a report capturing the
solutions offered. This will be used to promote wider awareness and
understanding of the issue and to initiate, influence and direct change at
national and local levels – more detail on the Solutions Series is
provided in appendix 2.
“On Your Marks…! - disabled people’s equal participation in sport”
is the 6th pop up Think Tank in the series. A list of invited participants
is provided at appendix 3.
3. Focus of the pop up think tank: “On Your Marks…! - disabled
people’s equal participation in sport”
A combination of desk based research and conversations with Disabled
People’s Organisations (DPO’s), academics, representatives from the
world of sport, and decision makers helped determine the specific
emphasis for the discussion ahead. It found that –
a) The pathways to sport for disabled people are not as clear as
those for non-disabled people
 There is still huge untapped demand for sport and physical activity by
disabled people and this is compounded by a lack of awareness and
availability of sporting opportunities1
 This lack of clear pathways is thought to impact on competitive sports
too; if disabled people don’t ‘make it’ in the Paralympics, there is
nowhere to go to try again or simply to continue in the sport they
enjoy
b) Data collection is inconsistent2 and data is not readily shared
among key partners3
 There is a mismatch between the preferences for and availability of
sport for disabled people4; this could partly be due to the
inconsistency of and sharing of information and data
 Mainstream data collected on sport is in Scotland is considered to be
“disability blind”5
1
http://www.efds.co.uk/
Scottish Government; “The Scottish Health Survey”, 2012
3 Scottish Disability Sport; “A literature review”, 2012
4 http://www.efds.co.uk/
5 Scottish Disability Sport; “A literature review”, 2012
2The
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March 2014
 Measures of physical activity often focus on task and intensity in a
way that may not account for disabled people’s circumstances
 A focus on increasing physical activity in ‘ordinary settings’ such as
work, the park or the countryside rather than specifically in sport
facilities, could exclude disabled people as they tend to be underrepresented in these ‘ordinary settings’.
 Teachers may have ready access to personal information on disability
status, but community sports providers will not. This data is subject
to parental disclosure and may not always be accurate (due to fear of
bullying and so on6)
c) Access, attitudes and role models
 Disabled people still face barriers to participating in sport7. These
include physical and attitudinal8
 Disempowering systems and institutions that have held low
aspirations for and negative assumptions about disabled people9
have had a significant impact on the aspirations and beliefs that
disabled people have for and about themselves (including their body
image), and those that others have for them10
 Within sport, body image issues for disabled people are compounded
 It is expensive and can be a burden on the few who make it in sport,
to create and showcase role models for disabled people in sport
d) Mainstream initiatives are sometimes “disability blind”
 Some mainstream initiatives are not always targeted appropriately so
as to take account of the specific requirements of disabled people
 The Scottish Disability Sport Sports Inclusion Model helps with this
but is used mainly at delivery point, rather than being conceptualised
and used in relation to strategic policy on sport and the design and
development of services and initiatives
e) Wider barriers to participation in sport
Scottish Disability Sport; “A literature review”, 2012
Disability Rights UK; “Doing Sport Differently”
8 Disability Rights UK; “Doing Sport Differently”
9 Disability Rights UK; “Doing Sport Differently”
10 Burchardt (2005) ‘The education and employment of disabled young people: frustrated ambition’
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7
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March 2014
 Cuts to social care and support mean that taking part in sport and
leisure activities is difficult for disabled people11
 Policy in social work is inconsistent with wider policy in health and in
sport
 74% of disabled adults experience restrictions in using transport
compared with 58% of non-disabled adults12
 Taking a transport option that helps to increase physical activity (e.g.
the bus at the end of the street as opposed to the taxi at the door) is
not always available to disabled people
 Participation in sport can be expensive, and disabled people are
amongst the most impoverished in Scotland
There is more detail on each at appendix 4.
All of this can:




Limit disabled people’s opportunities to pursue a healthy lifestyle
Discourage inclusion and diversity in the community
Contribute to isolation of disabled people
Limit the progression of good relations between disabled and nondisabled people
 Limit the positive portrayal of disabled people, and also negatively
affect the body image of disabled people
 Prevent sports facilities from gaining the money, knowledge and
experience that disabled people can bring
To help address this, the discussion will focus on how we ensure:
a) There are opportunities for disabled people to participate in
sport, at all levels (to lead, play, compete, attend events,
watch etc.)
b) That sport for disabled people is supported by committed,
confident and capable structures, organisations and people
c) Disabled people in sport are seen, heard and known about (in
communities, competitions, professional sport and so on)
11
Prof David Bell (2012:19), Fiscal Sustainability: Issues for the Finance Committee Work Programme 2012
and http://www.ageuk.org.uk/professional-resources-home/public-affairs/reportage/past-issues-ofreportage/reportage-february-2012/viewpoint-is-there-a-gap-in-social-care-funding/
and http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/stuc2009/7.html
12 The Life Opportunities Survey”; Office of National Statistics, 2010
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March 2014
4. Format of the think tank (more information available in Appendix
2)
The Solutions Series offers a high level space for discussion between
invited participants, to consider a specific issue in relation to the
realization of independent living and to seek solutions in the area.
You are invited because of; your interest and experience in the area,
your ability to use this to suggest solutions for the way forward and; your
ability to participate in making change happen.
Each participant will take part on an equal basis; therefore, there will be
no need for you to prepare presentations ahead of the think tank. The
format will be a round table discussion.
The chair will open the discussion, with introductions; to participants and
to the reason the subject has been chosen; and outline what is expected
from the event – including confirmation of understanding, highlighting
possible areas of contention and common ground.
The chair for ‘The Solutions Series: on your marks…disabled people’s
equal participation in sport’ is Baroness Tanni Gray Thompson.
The think tank will identify a series of suggested ways forward and will
highlight possible next steps. There will also be a report of the think
tank. This report will not attribute any particular suggestion or quote to
an individual it will be anonymised to support free flowing discussion.
You will have an opportunity to comment on this report before it is
published.
5. Contacts
Both Pam Duncan (Policy Officer) and Heather Fisken (Manager) will be
available on the day. Contact number on the day: Pam 0786 226
3081 Email address: pam@ilis.co.uk or heather@ilis.co.uk Website:
www.ilis.co.uk
As well as visiting our website, why not call in on us via Facebook and
Twitter (#thesolutions) and tell us your independent living news and
views? Don’t forget to like us!
@independentlivinginscotland
@ilisproject
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March 2014
Appendix 1
Independent living, equality and human rights – an understanding
Independent Living is defined by disabled people themselves as
meaning “disabled people of all ages having the same freedom, choice,
dignity and control as other citizens at home, at work, and in the
community. It does not mean living by yourself, or fending for yourself. It
means rights to practical assistance and support to participate in society
and live an ordinary life”.
For many disabled people, this practical assistance and support (such
as access to the environment, advocacy, personal assistance, income,
and equal opportunities for employment), underpinned by the principles
of independent living, freedom, choice, dignity and control is essential
for them to exercise their rights and duties of citizenship, via their full
and equal participation in the civic and economic life of Scotland.
Without it, many disabled people cannot; enjoy the human rights they
are entitled to13 on an equal basis to others – as set out in the Human
Rights Act and the European Convention of Human Rights, live free from
discrimination and harassment as the Equality Act 2010 promotes, nor
contribute to a wealthier and fairer, healthier, safer and stronger, smarter
and greener Scotland14.
Independent living thus promotes a modern understanding of disability
and disability equality that can support policy and practise to protect the
human rights of disabled people. It achieves this by recognising the
essential role of “material support” in ensuring disabled people can
“participate in society and lead an ordinary life”.
The role independent living plays in protecting the human rights of
disabled people is recognised and underpinned by international human
rights and equalities obligations to which the UK and Scotland are party
to; including the recognition that all of the rights outlined in the ECHR
and Human Rights legislation belong to disabled people, and that these
are further strengthened and contextualised by the rights set out in the
UNCRPD.
Appendix 2
13
14
ILiS; “ILiS Response to the JCHR Inquiry into the Implementation of Article 19 of the UNCRPD”, 2011
ILiS; “Response to the SDS Strategy in Scotland”, 2010
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March 2014
An introduction to “The Solutions Series”
Independent Living in Scotland (ILiS) was established in 2008 to
strengthen and develop the Independent Living Movement throughout
Scotland and to support the involvement of disabled people in shaping
approaches to independent living.
We know that policy and practice work best when those who have
interest in a subject come together to share knowledge, expertise, ideas
and experience and to develop collaborative responses and activity.
ILiS will host a series of subject-specific ‘pop up think tanks’15, as part of
The Solutions Series, between March 2012 and April 2015. This note
provides a brief overview of the purpose and format of these. Separate
pre-event briefings are provided on the specific subjects being
discussed, as and when appropriate.
Aims and outcomes
The Solutions Series aims to support meaningful, solution-focussed and
strategic-level discussion across a range of perspectives by hosting a
series of subject-specific pop up think tanks and reporting these. It is
hoped is that mutual engagement is increased, through the sharing of
perspectives and knowledge. To support this, the pop up think tanks will
use the principles and practices of coproduction. They will be safe
spaces, where people with different perspectives can talk freely and
openly – protecting this, the reports will not align comment to specific
individuals. Working in this way will mean that future action on and
reaction to the subject will be better able to take account of and respond
to different, indeed, opposing, views in a way that supports the honesty
and integrity needed to drive forward change.
It is hoped that in doing this; disabled people, their organisations, policy
makers and other key ‘movers and shakers’ e.g. sectoral leaders,
academia; will be better equipped to collaborate again; including when
appropriate drawing on cross-border perspectives. Both the think tanks
themselves and the resulting reports will be used as opportunities to
influence change on independent living.
Subjects
15
A pop up think tank is a one off, subject specific, topical think tank
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March 2014
There are many possible subjects for the pop up think tanks. The aim is
that they will focus on strategic and timely issues that would benefit from
the cross-sectoral engagement approach suggested, particularly where
there are significant areas of divergence in thinking.
The pop up think tanks will be both pro-active; addressing issues of
strategic importance for the furtherance of independent living; and
reactive; responding to particular strategic policy/piece of
research/reports/societal reaction on a given area, of relevance to
independent living.
In line with the agreed ILiS business plan, some of the subjects will be
suggested by ILiS and will likely focus, although not exclusively, on the
wider work of the national programme on independent living16. However,
it is hoped that others may consider the Solutions Series as an
opportunity to address specific issues. While resource limitations mean
that it may not always be possible to take up suggestions, ILiS welcome
an approach to ILiS to instigate a pop up think tank on a particular
subject as part of the series.
Format
The Solutions Series will pull together experts in a particular area to
respond to a given subject, agenda or consultation, in a one-off think
tank on the subject. Participants will be targeted for their expertise, their
capacity to effect change and their capacity to represent their community
of interest. They will be asked to come up with; through sharing
expertise, innovation and dialogue; some of the potential solutions –
including cross-sectoral responses to and suggestions for policy,
practise, research and legislative change – to sometimes quite
contentious issues that create barriers to the realisation of independent
living.
Chairs will be people with an in depth knowledge in the specific area
concerned. Their role will be to keep the discussion flowing, on topic
and solution focused.
It is expected that there will be between 10 and no more than 20 people
at each pop up think tank. This is to help ensure that in depth
discussion is possible. Participants will be asked to come with an
informed, learned opinion on the subject matter, taking account of the
16
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/04/8699/1
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March 2014
people they represent if and where appropriate. Each participant will
take part on an equal basis, there will be no need for participants to
prepare presentations ahead of the think tank. The format will be round
table discussion.
Think tanks will usually last for half a day, with lunch in the middle.
The chair will open with introductions; to participants and to the reason
the subject has been chosen; and outline what is expected from the
event – including confirmation of understanding, highlighting possible
areas of contention and common ground. The chair will also ensure the
think tank is solution focussed, they will encourage people to identify
specific suggested ways forward and – where appropriate – will highlight
next steps, including possible future actions needed.
The report will be drafted shortly after the think tank and participants will
have an opportunity to comment on this, before it is published. They will
be advised of timescales for this.
The role of the ILiS project in the Solution Series
ILiS will host the Solutions Series, providing facilities and secretariat
support. This will include: developing, including in partnership with
others, the strategic focus of the pop up think tank; providing premeeting briefings; facilities and support for participation; setting the date,
time and venue; taking notes, including action points; and circulating a
report. They may also take part in the series, where appropriate.
Briefings issued ahead of the pop up think tanks will include the purpose
of them including the motivation to host it; details of the relevant
background and context; and the relationship between the subject and
independent living.
For more information, including to be added to the mailing list for
reports:
Email: contact@ilis.co.uk
Phone: 0141 559 5020
www.ilis.co.uk
ILiS Project Team 2014
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March 2014
Appendix 3
List of invited participants to ‘The Solutions Series: On your
marks…disabled people’s equal participation in sport
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson – Paralympian, Peer and chairing
the think tank
Borders Council
Capability Scotland
Creative Scotland
Disabled person active in sport
Education Scotland
Scottish Disability Sport
Disabled sports columnist for the Evening Times
Glasgow 2014
Glasgow City Council – lead on Glasgow 2014
Glasgow Disability Alliance
ILiS
Inclusion Scotland
Minister and shadow Minister for Commonwealth Games
Paralympian’s
Scottish Government
Sport Scotland
The Scottish Football Association
The Mental Health Foundation
Transport Scotland
University of the West of Scotland
Volunteer Scotland
Young Scot
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Appendix 4
“On your marks – disabled people’s equal participation in sport” –
a briefing
1. Context
This year (2014) is an important year for Scotland and for sport. With the
Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup on our island, the world is
looking on and we have a “cultural opportunity for all of Scotland1718”.
The challenge now is for us to use it:
“[The legacy of Glasgow 2014 will be] about using the unique
opportunity … to deliver lasting change across the whole of
Scotland – now, in the run-up to the Games, and in the years
beyond19”
The 4 Chief Medical Officers across the UK, note that “inactivity is a
silent killer” and recognized that we have a “challenge to make
physical activity not just an aspiration for the few, but rather a
reality for all”20. Given the prevalence of health inequalities, it is
important that we use the opportunities presented in Scotland today, to
make this happen.
This briefing was originally prepared to support discussion at the ILiS
Solutions Series event; “On your marks: disabled people’s equal
participation in sport”. It sets out some of the challenges faced in
Scotland in meeting aspirations on physical activity in relation to
disabled people.
2. Physical activity and sport in Scotland
The benefits of physical activity are widely recognized and wide
ranging212223:
There are health benefits; “[there is] abundant evidence that regular
activity is related to reduce incidence of chronic conditions”24; the World
17
http://www.glasgow2014.com/
http://www.rydercup2014.com/
19 http://www.legacy2014.co.uk/
20 CMO’s of the 4 home counties; “Start Active, Stay Active”, 2011
21 CMO’s of the 4 home counties; “Start Active, Stay Active”, 2011
22 The Scottish Government; “The Scottish Health Survey”, 2012
23 The Scottish Government; “The Scottish Households Survey”, 2012
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Health Organization estimate that low physical activity accounts for
approx. 3.2m deaths worldwide; and; participating in sport and physical
activity can lift mood and boost self-esteem25.
There are economic benefits; low physical activity costs the NHS in
Scotland approx. £94m per year26.
And there are social benefits; participating in physical activity and sport
encourages social cohesion and reduces isolation2728.
Given the benefits, and the prevalence of health inequalities in
Scotland29; the many longstanding and resourced efforts to increase
levels of physical activity and sport in Scotland are welcome.
These efforts are generally targeted at the least active in Scotland, and
include; the National Strategy for Physical Activity and Sport30, including
a national indicator for physical activity in the National Performance
Framework31, setting targets for PE hours and physical activity for adults
and children and young people32, the Active Schools program33,
preparing for the legacy of Glasgow 201434, the recognition in GIRFEC
of physical activity35, and the National Strategy for Children and Young
People’s Sport.
In addition, there are various legal imperatives36 that influence this
agenda, including some legislation in relation to equalities and to
disabled people specifically.
The Equality Act makes it unlawful to discriminate on the grounds of
disability; including that public bodies must promote good relations
between communities. Most sporting facilities are covered by the
Equality Act and must make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to make their
facilities inclusive. This applies to paid for and free services. In very
particular circumstances, some facilities are exempt from the Equality
The Scottish Government; “The Scottish Health Survey”, p149, 2012
Mental Health Foundation; “Lets Get Physical”, 2013
26 The Scottish Government; “The Scottish Health Survey”, 2012
27 Disability Rights UK; “Doing Sport Differently”
28 The Scottish Government; “Giving Children and Young People a Sporting Chance”, 2013
29 The Scottish Government; “The Scottish Health Survey”, 2012
30 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/ArtsCultureSport/Sport/physicalactivity
31 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/Performance/scotPerforms/indicators
32 CMO’s of the 4 home counties; “Start Active, Stay Active”, 2011
33 http://www.sportscotland.org.uk/schools/active_schools/active_schools1
34 http://www.legacy2014.co.uk/
35 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Young-People/gettingitright
36 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/Policy
24
25
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Act e.g. some membership organizations – known as associations –
which have more than 25 members and are genuinely private with
specific requirements for membership. However, whether or not an
organization is an association and therefore entitled to discriminate in
the selection of its members, is a question of law, not something the
organization can decide on-the-spot to refuse access to their facilities37.
Governing Bodies in Sport are organizations that Govern how a
particular sports is developed, organized and supported. In Scotland,
some of the Governing Bodies of Sport are associations and so are
excluded from the provisions of the Equality Act in terms of provision of
Goods and Services, but not in relation to employment. However,
SportScotland, as a member of the UK Sports Council Equality Group
(SCEG), have developed an Equality Standard in Sport38. This provides
another mechanism through which to encourage improvement, for both
organizations covered by the Act and those who are not.
Further, in 2009, the UK signed up to the United Nations Convention on
the Rights of People with Disabilities39. The UNCRPD supports state
parties to relate existing human rights obligations40 to the specific
circumstances of disabled people and Article 30 of this includes specifics
on the rights of disabled people to participate on an equal basis with
others in recreational, leisure and sporting activities.
However, despite the legal and policy drivers, and concerted efforts
across Local Authorities (including local trusts delivering sport), the
Scottish Government, schools, coaches/trainers, Scottish Governing
Bodies of Sport and sports-people:
 large numbers of disabled and non-disabled people are not active at
recommended levels41 42 in Scotland and there has been no change
in levels of physical activity this since 200843
 the latest Scottish Health Survey showed that significantly less
disabled people reached the national targets for physical activity that
non-disabled people
Disability Rights UK; “Doing Sport Differently”
http://www.equalityinsport.org/
39 http://www.un.org/disabilities/convention/conventionfull.shtml
40 http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/human-rights/what-are-human-rights/the-human-rights-act/
41 MVPA guidelines; moderate activity for at least 150 minutes, or vigorous activity for 75 minutes, or a
combination of both, per week
42 MVPA guidelines for children; 60 minutes of activity on every day of the week
43 The Scottish Government; “The Scottish Health Survey”, 2012
37
38
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o This is particularly worrying when we note the health benefits of
physical activity against the backdrop of health inequalities for
disabled people (39% of disabled people, compared with 92%
of non-disabled people, report that they are in good or very
good health; 34% of disabled people are obese, compared with
24% of non-disabled people)44.
 physical activity levels are worse in areas of multiple deprivation45
 disabled people remain significantly less likely to participate in
cultural, leisure and sporting activities than non-disabled people46
3. So what’s the problem?
The problems, and therefore the solutions, are varied.
a) Pathways to sport for disabled people are not as clear as those
for non-disabled people
If young people learn to be active they will stay active, thus getting both
PE and community sport and the pathways between them right, is an
essential part of increasing participation in sport – for everyone47.
SportScotland and the Scottish Government recognize this and are
doing much work through their Active Schools48 program to increase
activity. This includes Active Schools Coordinators who ensure there is
a clear pathway from school sport to sport in the local community. In
relation to disability this program includes funding to support teachers to
understand disability issues in sport. It also includes 6 inclusion
coordinators who work specifically on inclusion, across Scotland. This
work is focused around the Scottish Disability Sport’s Social Inclusion
Model of Sport49.
However, only 55% of primary schools in Scotland reached the
recommended target of 2 PE hours per week50 and; there is still huge
untapped demand for sport and physical activity by disabled people
which is compounded by a lack of awareness and availability of sporting
opportunities for them51; sport pathways for disabled people, are unclear.
The Scottish Government; “The Scottish Health Survey; Equality Groups”, 2012
The Scottish Government; “The Scottish Households Survey”, 2012
46 Taking Part Survey 2011/12
47 The Scottish Government; “Giving Children and Young People a Sporting Chance”, 2013
48 http://www.sportscotland.org.uk/schools/active_schools/active_schools1
49 http://www.sportscotland.org.uk/sportscotland/Documents/Resources/disabilityrr.pdf
50 Scottish Disability Sport; “A literature review”, 2012
51 http://www.efds.co.uk/
44
45
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Furthermore, this lack of clear pathways was thought to influence
competitive sport also. It was felt that if disabled people don’t ‘make it’ in
Paralympics, there is nowhere to go to try again or simply to continue in
the sport they enjoy.
b) Data collection is inconsistent52 and data is not readily shared
among key partners53
The mismatch between the preferences of and availability of sport for
disabled people54 could be due to the inconsistency and sharing of
information and data.
Much data collected on sport is in Scotland is considered to be “disability
blind”55. Measures of physical activity focus on task and intensity. Some
tasks will result in intense activity for disabled people in a way that may
not be considered intense for a non-disabled person. In addition the
focus on increasing physical activity in ‘ordinary settings’ (rather than
specifically in sport facilities) could exclude disabled people as ‘ordinary
settings’ tend to focus on areas that disabled people are underrepresented in (e.g. work, or playing in the park).
Further, in the Active Schools program, only teachers readily have
access to data on disability status, not community sports providers, and
this data is subject to parents disclosing disability status. Many parents
find this difficult due to fears of bullying and discrimination, and thus
what data exists, is not always accurate56.
Because not everyone has the information and, that the information is
inconsistent and inconclusive, it is difficult to understand and create
pathways for disabled people in sport (as suggested above). All of the
above makes it difficult to measure success of programmes intended to
increase physical activity.
c) Access, attitudes and role models
Despite consistent efforts, including funding through the Active Places
fund, disabled people still face access barriers when trying to participate
in sport57. These include physical barriers such as poor signage, no
52The
Scottish Government; “The Scottish Health Survey”, 2012
Scottish Disability Sport; “A literature review”, 2012
54 http://www.efds.co.uk/
55 Scottish Disability Sport; “A literature review”, 2012
56 Scottish Disability Sport; “A literature review”, 2012
57 Disability Rights UK; “Doing Sport Differently”
53
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ramps, lack of accessible changing facilities, receptionist not being able
to communicate with you using BSL/palantype and so on.
Attitudes towards disabled people’s participation in sport are a huge
barrier; “some people involved in exercise and fitness just don’t get it.
They don’t understand how people with mental health conditions,
learning difficulties or physical impairments can do sport”58. Attitudes of
disabled people and of those around them also matter.
For years disabled people have been the subject of disempowering
systems and institutions that have held low aspirations for and negative
assumptions about them59. This has had a significant impact on the
aspirations and beliefs that disabled people have for and about
themselves (including their body image), and those that others have for
them60 - and within sport, body image issues for disabled people are
compounded.
A number of initiatives have sought to address this in relation to young
people in Scotland, including a Youth Ambassadors program targeted at
young people themselves, and a Positive Coaching Scotland program61
targeted at those influential people around young people; however, little
has focused specifically on disability.
Further, it is considered to be extremely expensive and can be a burden
on the few who make it in sport, to create and showcase role models for
disabled people in sport.
d) Mainstream initiatives are sometimes disability blind
In addition to the issues around data collection and recording at section
3b, some mainstream initiatives (such as that outlined above in relation
to youth sport) are not always targeted enough to take account of the
specific requirement of disabled people. Very often this is result of
assumptions that mainstreaming is about treating everyone the same.
This can fail to take account of the fact that for some disabled people,
being treated differently is needed in order to ensure equality of
outcomes. The Scottish Disability Sport Sports Inclusion Model helps to
Disability Rights UK; “Doing Sport Differently”
Disability Rights UK; “Doing Sport Differently”
60 Burchardt (2005) ‘The education and employment of disabled young people: frustrated ambition’
61http://www.sportscotland.org.uk/about_us/what_we_do/people/coaching/our_programmes/positive_coachin
g_scotland/
58
59
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do this but is used mainly at delivery point, rather than being
conceptualised and used in relation to strategic policy on sport.
e) Wider barriers to participation in sport
Cuts to social care and support mean that taking part in sport and leisure
activities is difficult for disabled people62. It also means that disabled
people are more likely to be sedentary now than before, and thus policy
in social work services is inconsistent with wider policy in health and in
sport.
In addition, 74% of disabled adults experience restrictions in using
transport compared with 58% of non-disabled adults63. This means that
actually getting out to sports venues is difficult. It also means that taking
a transport option that helps to increase physical activity (e.g. the bus at
the end of the street as opposed to the taxi at the door) is not always
available to disabled people.
4. The impact of all of this
Disabled people’s opportunities to pursue a healthy lifestyle are limited
and thus the health inequalities that exist will widen.
If disabled people are not seen in local communities as often, inclusion
and diversity in the community will suffer. This limits the progression of
good relations between disabled and non-disabled people and can result
in isolation. There are less opportunities to portray positive images of
disabled people.
Lower levels of participation will have an economic and social impact on
sports facilities too. They will not gain the money, knowledge and
experience disabled people can bring.
Pam Duncan, ILiS Policy Officer
pam@ilis.co.uk
www.ilis.co.uk
March 2014
62
Prof David Bell (2012:19), Fiscal Sustainability: Issues for the Finance Committee Work Programme 2012
and http://www.ageuk.org.uk/professional-resources-home/public-affairs/reportage/past-issues-ofreportage/reportage-february-2012/viewpoint-is-there-a-gap-in-social-care-funding/
and http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/stuc2009/7.html
63 The Life Opportunities Survey”; Office of National Statistics, 2010
17