Game Changers: Providing Equitable Sporting Opportunities for Students with Disabilities

Abstract

The benefits of sport for youth are well documented and include but are not limited to increased levels of general health and well-being, greater social engagement, enhanced self-esteem, and improved academic performance. Nevertheless, the literature finds that students with disabilities do not have the same or equitable access to school sport. Students with disabilities often face additional barriers beyond limited sporting opportunities that are intrapersonal, interpersonal, and structural. In response, Physical and Health Education Canada launched Game Changers, an initiative focused on improving school sport opportunities and providing leadership training for students with disabilities. Funded by Sport Canada, students with disabilities, their schools’ physical education teachers, communities’ sport leaders, and university researchers came together in this participatory action research project. The results of this study are consistent with the literature; however, we found that not only are barriers to participation structural for youth with disabilities, but they are also pedagogical and demonstrate a significant equity gap in access to school sport.