Disability Sport Disability Sport IntroductionIntroductionDr. Saim Ali Soomro.Dr. Saim Ali Soomro.

Deputy DirectorDeputy Director

NSEC for PHC. Islamabad.NSEC for PHC. Islamabad.

IntroductionsIntroductions

Ground RulesGround Rules About me…About me… About you…About you… Favourite film?Favourite film?

What is Disability?What is Disability?

ModelsModels What is a model?What is a model? The earth is flat!The earth is flat! Medical & Social ModelsMedical & Social Models

Medical & Social ModelsMedical & Social Models

Medical ModelMedical Model A person is disabled A person is disabled

because they use a because they use a wheelchair and wheelchair and cannot climb a flight cannot climb a flight of steps into a of steps into a building.building.

Social ModelSocial Model A person is disabled A person is disabled

because they use a because they use a wheelchair and a wheelchair and a ramp is not provided ramp is not provided to access the to access the building.building.

Barriers to ParticipationBarriers to Participation

National statistics - lowest participation rates National statistics - lowest participation rates for disabled peoplefor disabled people

Taking Part Taking Part & & Active People Active People surveys – surveys –

8.8 – 9.5% disabled adults in regular moderate 8.8 – 9.5% disabled adults in regular moderate activity (pop. average 21%) activity (pop. average 21%)

(Sport England, 2006; DCMS, 2007)(Sport England, 2006; DCMS, 2007)

44% of disabled young people not regularly 44% of disabled young people not regularly physically active (12% non-disabled) physically active (12% non-disabled)

(Sport England, 2001)(Sport England, 2001)

Barriers to ParticipationBarriers to Participation

Key barriers to participation identified by Key barriers to participation identified by disabled people themselves;disabled people themselves; Adults - Health Problems (74%), Lack of Adults - Health Problems (74%), Lack of

money (5%), Lack of time (5%) money (5%), Lack of time (5%) (Sport England, 2002)(Sport England, 2002)

Young People – Disability/Health (58%), Young People – Disability/Health (58%), Lack of ‘disabled’ sports facilities (18%), Lack of ‘disabled’ sports facilities (18%), Lack of adult’s time/supervision (14%) Lack of adult’s time/supervision (14%)

(Sport England, 2001)(Sport England, 2001)

TerminologyTerminology

Group exerciseGroup exercise Avoid old fashioned referencesAvoid old fashioned references Don’t get ‘hung up’ on being politically Don’t get ‘hung up’ on being politically

correct…correct… No-one gets it right all the time… No-one gets it right all the time…

Stereotypes & Stereotypes & AssumptionsAssumptions

Myths and fears promoted by media Myths and fears promoted by media industriesindustries

Attitudes of local and national mediaAttitudes of local and national media Ask the right questions AND listen to the Ask the right questions AND listen to the

answers!answers!

Benefits of Sport & Benefits of Sport & ExerciseExercise

Inclusive Fitness InitiativeInclusive Fitness Initiative

Disability SportDisability Sport

History/OverviewHistory/Overview Disability sport as we know it credited to Sir Disability sport as we know it credited to Sir

Ludwig Guttmann who started sport as a rehab Ludwig Guttmann who started sport as a rehab venture at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, post WWII.venture at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, post WWII.

First international games held in 1948First international games held in 1948 First ‘official’ Paralympics in 1952First ‘official’ Paralympics in 1952 First Paralympics held in same city as Olympics First Paralympics held in same city as Olympics

in 1988in 1988 Most sports now compete at national and Most sports now compete at national and

international level, some in direct involvement international level, some in direct involvement with non-disabled counterpart organisations.with non-disabled counterpart organisations.

Introduction to Introduction to ClassificationClassification

Classification is not exclusive to disabled Classification is not exclusive to disabled sportsport

Examples: Judo – weight classes, Examples: Judo – weight classes, Fencing – male, female, junior, veterans, Fencing – male, female, junior, veterans, Swimming – by discipline.Swimming – by discipline.

It’s aim in disability sport is to achieve fair It’s aim in disability sport is to achieve fair and equitable competition.and equitable competition.

Classification cont…Classification cont…

There are two main forms of There are two main forms of classification in disabled sport:classification in disabled sport:

MedicalMedical FunctionalFunctional Recent developments include Recent developments include

implementing points systems to increase implementing points systems to increase participation in individual events and participation in individual events and make them more ‘spectator friendly’make them more ‘spectator friendly’

Classification cont…Classification cont…

Minimal DisabilityMinimal Disability Is an entry level which describes the Is an entry level which describes the

minimal level of disability/injury to allow minimal level of disability/injury to allow eligibility to participate in disability sport.eligibility to participate in disability sport.

Classification cont…Classification cont…

Factors determining classificationFactors determining classification 1. Trunk function1. Trunk function 2. Lower limb function2. Lower limb function 3. Upper limb function3. Upper limb function 4. Hand function4. Hand function

Classification cont…Classification cont…

Volume of action-Volume of action- example w/c basketballexample w/c basketball Vertical planeVertical plane – rotating trunk to left or right – rotating trunk to left or right

whilst maintaining an upright positionwhilst maintaining an upright position Forward planeForward plane – bending trunk forwards – bending trunk forwards

reaching hands towards the feet & returning to reaching hands towards the feet & returning to upright positionupright position

Sideways planeSideways plane – leaning trunk to left or right – leaning trunk to left or right without movement in forward plane & returning without movement in forward plane & returning to upright position to upright position

Classification cont…Classification cont…

Minimal disabilityMinimal disability – definition (example) – definition (example) UsuallyUsually: must meet the following criteria:: must meet the following criteria: A) a wheelchair basketball player is unable to run, pivot A) a wheelchair basketball player is unable to run, pivot

or jump at speed and with the control of an able-bodied or jump at speed and with the control of an able-bodied player;player;

B) a wheelchair basketball player has a permanent B) a wheelchair basketball player has a permanent physical disability in the lower limb/s which can be physical disability in the lower limb/s which can be objectively verified by an acknowledged medical and/or objectively verified by an acknowledged medical and/or paramedical investigation such as measurement, x-ray, paramedical investigation such as measurement, x-ray, CT scan, MRI scan, etc…CT scan, MRI scan, etc…

N.b: degrees of pain are not considered as measurable N.b: degrees of pain are not considered as measurable and permanent disabilities.and permanent disabilities.

Classification cont…Classification cont…

Wheelchair Basketball Points systemWheelchair Basketball Points system Each player is awarded a point value Each player is awarded a point value

based on classification from 1pt to 4.5pts based on classification from 1pt to 4.5pts with .5pt increments between each classwith .5pt increments between each class

Functional classification is polarised to Functional classification is polarised to achieve final classificationachieve final classification

Review process followed/appealReview process followed/appeal

Classification cont…Classification cont…

IPC recognises 6 different disability groups:IPC recognises 6 different disability groups: 1. amputees1. amputees 2. athletes with Cerebral Palsy (CP)2. athletes with Cerebral Palsy (CP) 3. blind or visually impaired athletes3. blind or visually impaired athletes 4. spinal cord injured athletes4. spinal cord injured athletes 5. athletes with an intellectual/learning 5. athletes with an intellectual/learning

disabilitydisability 6. other athletes (les autres) with a physical 6. other athletes (les autres) with a physical

disability who do not fit into the above 5 disability who do not fit into the above 5 categories.categories.

Ethical IssuesEthical Issues

Minimal disability…? Where do you draw Minimal disability…? Where do you draw the line?the line?

Non disabled competitors in disability Non disabled competitors in disability sport…? Inclusion/reverse sport…? Inclusion/reverse discrimination?discrimination?

Cheating…?Cheating…? Substance use/BoostingSubstance use/Boosting Do we really need classification?Do we really need classification?

Summary – Q&ASummary – Q&A

Medical & social modelsMedical & social models Barriers to participationBarriers to participation TerminologyTerminology StereotypesStereotypes Disability sport – history, classification, Disability sport – history, classification,

ethicsethics Any questions?Any questions?