Disability and Inclusive Sport
IAPS passionately believes in the role sport plays as part of education for children. We believe all children should have access to enjoy and benefit from participating in sport.
Our sports programme offers over 170 events across 22 sports and we strive for all of our events to be as inclusive as possible.
What do we mean by inclusive sport?
Inclusive sports seek to include disabled children in sports activities and events. Our goal is to enable children with a disability to have the opportunity to play and participate alongside their peers. Where possible, we adapt our events to a be as inclusive as possible.
What do we mean by a disability?
Someone who has a long-standing and limiting disability or illness. These are impairments, physical or mental, or health problems that limit activities in any way.
Some people can have a long-standing disability or illness that does not limit taking part in activities or sport.
How is IAPS making events inclusive?
IAPS makes small changes to the way a competition is run, allowing as many children as possible to take part. We did exactly that at our national swimming finals in 2019. One of the swimmers taking part was deaf, so we installed a starting light to one of the lanes. The light turned on at the same time as the buzzer went off to start the race.
Another example of an adaptation we are able to make is including a bell in a ball. A child with visual impairments can listen for the sound of the bell in the ball. This is something which could be introduced in netball if it was required for a competitor.
What about a disability sports programme?
A number of organisations, such as the Youth Sport Trust (YST), already run a huge programme of sport events for children with a disability to take part in. Rather than IAPS creating a separate programme of events, we are working with YST, and other organisations, to promote their events.
Who are the Youth Sport Trust?
YST are a children’s charity and one of the areas they focus on is making sure that every child enjoys the benefits that come from play and sport!
IAPS is working with YST to both promote their huge list of events and opportunities they have to offer. As well, we are working with them to make as many of our events as inclusive as possible for children with a disability.
Check out the YST website here to find out more about what they have to offer. They run programmes and events for both children with and without a disability.
Fun Fact
Did you know the Commonwealth Games became the first all-inclusive international multi-sport event? This means the para-sport programme is fully incorporated into the main event. There is no separate event or ticket for para-sport and a medal won by a para-athlete contributes to a nation's medal tally.
In fact, it was at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester where para-athletes were first fully integrated into their national teams!
