Participation
Creating pathways to inclusion.
For people with disability, there are often many barriers to overcome before they hit the playing field. It’s just not as simple as showing up.
Sometimes those barriers are physical or practical in nature. Support workers’ hours might not match your training times. Weekend sessions can be too costly because of higher support rates. A parent might want to bring their child who uses a wheelchair, but there’s no accessible parking near the field.
At other times, the person simply feels like they don’t belong in your club environment, and they feel out of place.
The good news is, by being inquisitive and flexible, your club can take action to address these barriers.
To pinpoint the potential barriers that might exist in your club, ask yourself:
- Does our club offer flexible ways of playing? For example, short-term or casual memberships for people who can’t commit to a whole season.
- Are our programs flexible? Could rules or team sizes be adjusted to suit different abilities?
- Does our club work to reduce financial challenges that impact participation?
These initial questions reveal valuable opportunities to help boost participation! By continuing to ask questions and being open to learning, you can create an environment where everyone can fully engage, join in, and enjoy sports.
Resources to help overcome barriers to participation in sports.
Visit our resource hub to find guidebooks and other downloadable resources to learn practical and easy-to-implement strategies to improve participation in your sports club.
