Sport, inclusion and disabilities: these three words are the subject of a serious reflexion and of other concrete actions from the State. Sport and disabilities have however not always been close in our society. If you want to know how sport favours social inclusion and how to integrate disabled people in a sport group, you are reading the right article! PlayMoovin’ will review this topic for you.
Inclusion of disabled people through sport: what is it about?
Sport and disabilities: the figures
The WHO recommends regular physical practice to everyone at a rate of 30 minutes per day. This is true both for disabled people and able-bodied.
Of course, most of the people who suffer from a disability (90%) know how important it is to practice a physical activity according to the “Sport et handicap” (sport and disabilities) study carried out in 2015. 70% of those people even admit being interested by sport generally speaking.
However, 48% of people suffering from a disability do not practice a physical activity. So, what is the problem related to sport and disabilities?
In France, the 2005 law related to the equality of right and chances for people suffering from a disability already underlined the importance of the social inclusion of disabled people.
In 2020, this subject became one of the state’s main undertakings.
IT put in place a National Strategy for Sports and Disabilities which aims to help create a more inclusive society.
Making sport accessible to everyone: a national priority
Sport is one the main stakes of social inclusion especially when an athlete suffers from a disability. It is why the government is committed to make all the sport structures accessible to everyone. The government also wants to propose sport activities related to everyone’s wants and capabilities.
In parallel, the government’s objective is to stimulate the creation of a performant French Olympic and Paralympic team.
Obstacles to the inclusion of disabled people through sport
Whether it is in leisure or competition practice, playing conditions remain sometimes difficult. They are related to:
- The accessibility to sport structures
- The limited offer of sports;
- The transport to the sport club;
- Etc.
People with reduced mobility (PMR) must also have a sport wheelchair to practice. It is often a real obstacle because this type of equipment is still very expensive. Indeed, one has to spend between 3500 and 7000€ to acquire a sport wheelchair adapted to their discipline.
We are aware of this reality at PlayMoovin’. It is why we have made a sport wheelchair which is ideal for a leisure practice: the FreeMoovin’.The difference with the other wheelchairs is simple: it is made of a very solid plastic material which allows to reduce its price heavily. It also comes equipped with all the essential safety elements. It allows for a person suffering from a disability to play a sport, whether with able-bodied or other disabled people.
We have two objectives:
- We want to fight against all the discriminations which still affect too many disabled people.
- We also want to propose an innovating and cheap solution to all the clubs and associations which wish to welcome people with reduced mobility.
Let’s do a small overview of all the different disciplines.
Which sports can be played with inclusion in mind?
Numerous activities are accessible to people suffering from a physical or a mental disability.
The existence of the FreeMoovin’ is proof of that, as it is now used by renowned sport clubs such as the Stade Toulousain Handisport. Outside of wheelchair rugby, other sports are of course available. Here a small non-exhaustive list:
- Wheelchair handball;
- Wheelchair basketball;
- Athletics;
- Etc.
In 2022, the FreeMoovin’ even went onto Roland Garros’s courts.
How to ease the inclusion of people suffering from disabilities in sport?
There are numerous structures in which promoting sports is a good way to better include disabled people. Here are a few examples of that.
School and activity centres: awareness and sport practice locations for everyone
Sport remains an essential conveyor for a better disability inclusion within infrastructures which welcome young people.
Did you know that more than 360 000 students who suffer from a disability study in standard establishments each year?
This is a considerable challenge for primary schools, secondary high schools, high schools and also for activity centres. It is all about:
- Raising awareness of disabilities among children of all ages;
- Showing them the Olympic and Paralympic values;
- Starting partnerships with parasport associations to help children;
- Promote all the inclusive practices.
PlayMoovin’ totally commits to this solidarity process. Our sport wheelchair can help make sport accessible to everyone, although it is not just a simple multisport wheelchair. We value sport as an inclusion conveyor for everyone very much.
In this context, we are for example participating to the paralympic and generation 2020-24 week. You can learn about what we do here.
Sport associations
Among the 300 000+ existing French sport associations, 8500 of them welcome disabled people, according to the last census carried out by handiguide in 2019.
If some of them do not welcome people with reduced mobility, it may also be because they do not feel they are qualified to do so. Others are completely unaware of the existing support measures. So how can people with disabilities be included in sport practice? In order to encourage structures to be more inclusive, the government carried out the following actions:
- Pass on the information to the people working in associations;
- Carry out awareness actions in clubs;
- Give information on the right practices.
For instance, the FreeMoovin’ is a partner of the French parasport federation for everyone. It will be used for the Roda Tour Sport pour tous until October 2022. It takes part in many other animations in that regard.
Sport remains a true conveyor of social inclusion for people suffering from a disability. Whether you are a teacher, a member, the president of a sport association or the director of an activity centre, you can either buy or rent the FreeMoovin’. It can make a disabled children happy or be part of a group during an efficient awareness animation. If you want to fight against all the forms of discrimination towards disabilities, you can call us: we would be happy to answer all of your questions!
source
