Special Populations and Sport

Special Populations in Sport

• Includes physically challenged, developmentally delayed, and senior populations.
• One in six Americans has a disability.
• More than 54 million people in the U.S. have a mental or physical disability and almost 100 million Americans are older than 50.

Issues for Special Populations

• Acceptance, funding, organizational support, and community program opportunities are key.
• Need for trainers, coaches, administrators, officials, and equipment.
• Inclusion with other populations and media support are important.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

• U.S. law enacted in 1990.
• Eliminates discrimination in employment, government, public accommodations, telecommunications, and transportation.
• Led to dramatic change in sport opportunities and more representation for programs for people with disabilities.

History of Disabled Sports

• Sir Ludwig Guttmann's role in the development of the 1948 Stoke Mandeville Games.
• Post WWII – Sports for disabled veterans begins.

Paralympics

• Games for athletes with amputations, visual impairment, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, MS, dwarfism, and others.
• Inaugural games were in Rome, Italy in 1960.
• International Paralympic Committee leads.
• Division of USOC, founded in 2001 and manages 18 sports, funding over 23 million.
• IOC – 2020 Agreement aims to increase the visibility of the Paralympic Games and enhance the Paralympic brand.

Special Olympics

• Includes athletes with intellectual disabilities, cognitive delays, significant learning disabilities, or vocational problems.
• Eunice Kennedy Shriver establishes Special Olympics in 1968.
• First games were in Chicago, with 1,000 athletes.

Seniors and Sport

• Senior PGA, Senior Olympics, Masters Tennis, Running, Softball.
• More than 81 million adults between age 45-65 in the United States.
• Adults over 55 control 70% of the net worth of U.S. households.

Sport Participation for Older Adults

• Associations involved: AARP, International Council on Active Aging (ICAA).
• Huge increase in physical activity and sports for the over-50 group.
• Increase in lifetime activities: Swimming, tennis, walking, golf, yoga, dance.