This section of the website provides information and advice on a range of disability sports issues.
Sport & Physical Activity and People with Disabilities in Northern Ireland - A Research Overview
- 20% (1 in 5) of the population in Northern Ireland have some form of disability. (NI Census 2001)
- Only 13% of people with disabilities in Northern Ireland take the recommended level of physical activity
compared to 34% of non- disabled people. (NI Health & Social Wellbeing Survey 2001)
- People with disabilities are four times as likely to be sedentary (55% compared to 13%)
(NI Health & Social Well Being Survey 2001)
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1. Prevalence of Disability in Northern Ireland
As no comprehensive research on the topic has been conducted in Northern Ireland, since the PPRU
surveys published between 1992 and 1995, the principle source of up-to-date information available is estimates
based on sample surveys or self reported information from the Northern Ireland census which was last carried out
in 2001.
It is important to note that much of the available research refers to 'Long Standing Limiting Illness' or 'Limiting
Long Term Illness' rather than 'disability'.
Although many people with disabilities do not regard themselves as ill, this term is frequently used as a proxy.
Summary of Key Findings:
- 26% of Adults with 'Long Standing Limiting Illness' (Continuous Household Survey 2002/2003)
- 9% of adults 'permanently sick/disabled' (DSD NI Family Resource Survey 2002/2003)
- 20.36% of people had 'Limiting Long Term Illness' of which 17.5% were of 'working age.'
(Northern Ireland Census 2001)
- 17.4% of the adult population with disabilities
(PPRU: The Prevalence of Disability Among Adults in Northern Ireland. D McCoy & M Smith 1992)
2. Participation in Sport & Physical Activity by People with Disabilities in Northern Ireland
Although no specific research on the participation of people with disabilities in sport and physical activity
has been conducted to date, some limited data is available from more generic sports, physical activity or
disability research as summarized below:
Northern Ireland Health & Social Wellbeing Survey 2001:
- 15% of disabled adults actively participated in 'sporting or leisure activities' in the four weeks prior to interview.
- People in the 'lower severity categories' were more likely than those in the 'higher categories'
to participate (24% compared to 3%).
- Participation declined with increasing age: from 30% of those aged 16 - 49 to 5% of those aged 75 or over.
- 55% of disabled children aged 5-15 had taken part in sport or leisure activities in the four weeks prior to interview.
- Children in the 'lower severity categories' were more likely than those in the 'higher categories' to
participate (87% compared to 46%).
3. Relevant UK Research
In the absence of local sports specific research it may be useful to look at the findings of recent Sport England surveys
which specifically looked at the participation of people with disabilities in sport:
Sport England: Adults with a Disability and Sport Survey 2002
- The participation rates for those with any form of disability are lower than for the general population:
- Including walking, 51% of disabled adults had participated in at least one activity in the four weeks
prior to interview compared to 75% of non disabled people.
- Excluding walking 38% of disabled adults had participated in at least one activity in the four
weeks prior to interview compared to 59% of non disabled people.
- Rates of participation vary according to the form of disability:
Including walking, people with a 'vision disability' were most likely to have participated in at least
one sport (48%) and people with an 'ambulation disability' least likely (23%).
Sport England: Young People with a Disability and Sport Survey 2000
- The participation rates for young people with a disability were lower than for the
overall population of young people:
- 36% of young disabled people had not taken part in sport frequently
(at least 10 times in the previous year) compared to 6% of the overall population.
- 10% had not undertaken any sport in school lessons in the previous 12 months.
- Only 12% were members of a sports club compared to 46% for the overall population.
4. Other Relevant Information from the PPRU Surveys:
The PPRU surveys used a 13 type classification of disability which were based on the International Classification
of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps (World Health Organisation).
PPRU1992: The Prevalence of Disability Among Adults in Northern Ireland. D McCoy & M Smith
- 201,000 people with disabilities
- 83,000 were men/118,000 were women
- The prevalence of disability increases with age
- Most Common 'types' of disabilities:
- 'maladaptive' behaviour - 7,400
- 'locomotion' difficulties - 4,900
- 'continence' - 4,900
- 'personal care' - 4,500
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INTERNATIONAL SPORT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FROM NORTHERN IRELAND
- Introduction
- Classification
- Irish National Disability Sports Organisations
- British National Disability Sports Organisations
INTRODUCTION
In most sports, athletes from Northern Ireland who wish to compete internationally have the option to do so
either as a 'British' or 'Irish' athlete. Both British and Irish competition structures and squad systems
are organised on a disability specific basis.
National sports specific championships (both British and Irish) are usually held on an annual
basis with European Championships held every two years.
Major international competitions are organised on a four year cycle. The winter and summer Paralympics take
place every four years immediately after the Olympic Games (eg Sydney, Australia in 2000/Athens, Greece in 2004).
Most of these competitions are held on a disability specific basis, for example the Paralympics largely
involve athletes with physical disabilities, Special Olympics hold world games for people with
learning disabilities and deaf athletes take part in their own World championships, the Deaflympics.
The IPC (International Paralympic Committee) is responsible for organising the winter and summer Paralympics and world championships.
The international sports federations also hold world championships, either individually or jointly.
Many of the international federations also organise annual international games for athletes in their particular disability groups.
CLASSIFICATION
To ensure that all athletes with a disability have a fair and equal chance of success in competition, an international
classification system has been developed. This system classifies individual athletes into separate competitive categories
based on their individual level of functional impairment. The degree of functional impairment is determined by trained medical
classifiers. In this way fair competition is ensured with individual
athletes competing on a "like for like" basis, against other athletes with a similar level of functional ability.
Some mainstream sports use similar classification systems.
For example, in boxing competitors are classified into different weight categories to ensure fair competition.
The most widely used systems in disability sport are based on the athletes functional ability, i.e. the range
of movement in the parts of the body affected or muscular efficiency and co-ordination.
Within each disability group there are established functional classes related to the nature of an individual's disability.
An example of a classification system used is provided below (Blind Sports):
| B1 |
No light perception at all in either eye, up to light perception but inability
to recognise the shape of a hand in any direction at any distance. |
|
| B2 |
Ability to recognise the shape of a hand up to a visual acuity of
2/60 and/or a limitation in field of five degrees. |
|
| B3 |
2/60 to 6/60 vision and field of vision between 5 and 20 degrees. |
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Irish National Disability Sports Organisations
Cerebral Palsy Sport Ireland
The aim of the organisation is to provide sporting opportunities for people with cerebral palsy (CP),
stroke and traumatic brain injury. The organisation is recognised by the Irish Sports Council and
the relevant international organisation as the Irish National Governing Body for CP Sport in Ireland.
The organisation is responsible for selection and preparation of Irish squads competing in International Competition.
For further information contact:
Cerebral Palsy Sport Ireland
Sports HQ
Parkwest Business Park
Dublin 12
Tel: 00353 1 625 1160
Email: cpsportsire05@eircom.net
Web:www.cerebralpalsysportireland.com
Irish Blind Sports
Irish Blind Sports promotes sport and recreational activities for people who are visually impaired.
As the National Governing Body for the visually impaired, the organisation is
responsible for the selection and management of Irish teams participating in European and World Games.
For further information contact:
Neil O'Donovan
Manager
Irish Blind Sports
115 Lower George's Street
Dun Laoghaire
Co Dublin
Telephone: 00353 1 2020118
Fax: 00353 1 2148365
Email: IBSports@eircom.net
Irish Deaf Sports Association
As the national governing body for Deaf Sport in Ireland, the organisation is responsible for the
selection and preparation of Irish teams participating in international deaf sports competitions including the 'Deaflympics'.
The organisation has a close relationship with the Ulster Deaf Sports Council in Northern Ireland.
Please see entry for Ulster Deaf Sports Council under 'Member Groups Section'.
Irish Wheelchair Association – Sport
As well as organising a national programme of events annually the organisation is responsible for the selection and
management of Irish Teams participating in International Competitions.
For further information contact:
Mairead Farquharson
IWA – Sport
Blackheath Drive
Clontarf
Dublin 3
Telephone: 00353 1 8186400
Fax: 00353 1 8531256
Web: www.iwasport.com
Email: iwa-sport@clubi.ie
Paralympic Council of Ireland
The Paralympic Council of Ireland is the national representative organisation at the Paralympic
Games and other multi disability championships at both a European and World level. Promotion of
sports for high performance athletes with disabilities is actively encouraged by the Council
which is responsible for co-ordinating the Paralympic preparation programme up to and including
the sending of the Irish Team to Paralympic Games and other major championships.
Athletes from all 32 counties are eligible to be considered for selection to teams,
but must come through the relevant National Governing Bodies (as outlined above).
For further information contact:
Anne Ebbs
Secretary General
Paralympic Council of Ireland
Joyce Way
Parkwest Business Park
Clondalkin
Dublin 12
Telephone: 00353 1 625 1175
Fax: 00353 1 625 1176
E-mail: info@pcireland.ie
Web: www.pcireland.ie
Special Olympics Ireland
Special Olympics Ireland is a worldwide programme of sports training and athletic competition open to individuals with
a learning disability regardless of their level of ability. Sports training and athletic competition is provided in a
variety of Olympic-type sports for both children and adults with learning disabilities, to help bring them into the larger
society under conditions whereby they are accepted and respected.
The programme in Ireland covers the 32 counties and is presently divided into 4 Regions, one of which is Northern Ireland.
For further information contact:
Central Office
Special Olympics Ireland
4th Floor Park House,
North Circular Road
Dublin 7
Ireland
Telephone: 00353 1 8823972
Fax: 00353 1 8688250
Email: info@specialolympics.ie
Web: www.specialolympics.ie
British National Disability Sports Organisations
British Amputee and Les Autres Sports Association (BALASA)
The Association was brought about by the coming together of two groups - the British Amputee Sports Association
and British Les Autres Sports Association. National games are staged annually to select teams of elite athletes
and to encourage participation by new competitors.
Elaine Lowe
Chairperson
BALASA
12 Cavenham Grove
Bolton
Greater Manchester
BL1 4UA
Tel: 0120 449 4308
Email: balsaoffice@btinternet.com
British Blind Sport
British Blind Sport is the co-ordinating body of sport for the blind and partially sighted people in the UK.
They aim to encourage as many blind and partially sighted children and adults as possible to participate in
sport at all levels, from grassroots to Paralympic representation. Visually impaired people are also encouraged
to participate in sport through their local mainstream clubs. It is the responsibility of British Blind Sport to select and
coach individuals and teams to represent Great Britain at European and World Championships.
For further information contact:
Maurice Bright
Chief Executive
4-6 Victoria Terrace
Leamington Spa
Warwickshire
CV31 3AB
Telephone: 08700 789000
Fax: 08700 789001
Email: info@britishblindsport.org.uk
Web: www.britishblindsport.org.uk
British Deaf Sports Council
The British Deaf Sports Council is the governing Body of deaf sports and is affiliated with the European Deaf Sports and CIFFSS.
The BDSC is made up of regions throughout England, Scotland and Wales with the exception of the West Midlands.
Within each region there is approximately 100 clubs, who are all responsible for their own programme of events.
The BDSC encourages all regions to take part in National Championship and the Deaflympics.
For further information contact:
British Deaf Sports Council (BDSC)
49 Fonnerau Road
Ipswich
IP1 3JN
FAX: 01473 252210
Web: www.britishdeafsportscouncil.org.uk
British Paralympic Association
The British Paralympic Association is responsible for the selection, funding and management of the Great Britain
teams competing at both the summer and winter Paralympic Games and other international events.
The organisation also works closely with national governing bodies and disability sports organisations.
For further information contact:
Chief Executive
40 Bernard Street
London
WC1N 1ST
Telephone: 020 7211 5222
Fax: 020 7211 5233
Web: www.paralympics.org.uk
British Wheelchair Sports Foundation
The British Wheelchair Sports Foundation is the national organisation for wheelchair sport in the UK and exists to
provide, promote and develop opportunities for those with disabilities to participate in recreation and competitive
wheelchair sport. It acts as the umbrella body of 17 different wheelchair sports associations and provides the venue
and facilities for training and development weekends throughout the year.
It is also responsible for the selection and training of teams and individuals at International, World and Paralympic events.
For further information contact:
Martin McElhatton
Chief Executive
Guttmann Road
Stoke Mandeville
Buckinghamshire
HP21 9PP
Tel: 01296 395995
Fax: 01296 424171
Email: enquiries@britishwheelchairsports.org
United Kingdom Association For People With Learning Disability
The UKSA is the recognised full member of the International Sports Federation for persons with intellectual disability.
Membership of the association is extended to the four home countries including Disability Sports NI in Northern Ireland.
For further information contact:
Tracey McCillen
UK Sports Association
Ground Floor
Leroy House
436 Essex Road
London N1 3QP
Telephone: 0870 770 2464
Fax:
E-mail Office@uksapld.freeserve.co.uk
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