IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jdisab/v3y2023i3p22-351d1184846.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

‘Just Another Outing in a Boat’: Findings from the Evaluation of the Mixed Ability Sport Development Programme

Author

Listed:
  • Jen Dyer

    (Sustainability Research Institute, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK)

  • Rachel Sandford

    (School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK)

Abstract

Article 30 (5a) of the UNCRPD states that participation in mainstream sport should be a right for all individuals. However, many disabled people still face barriers to participation, and provision remains segregated and/or determined, at least in part, by the nature and degree of impairment. This paper explores the Mixed Ability (MA) model as an innovative approach to facilitating disabled people’s participation in, and engagement with, mainstream sport. It outlines findings from an evaluation of the Sport England-funded Mixed Ability Sport Development Programme, which saw the MA model trialed in a variety of sports. A participatory research design was employed to generate data with key stakeholder groups involved in the design and delivery of programme activities, as well as with MA participants. Analysis of the data identified three core themes: (i) defining MA sport; (ii) the impacts of MA sport; and (iii) challenges and enablers of MA sport. In discussing these, it is argued that the MA model can be a powerful approach to inclusion and help to shape meaningful change. Indeed, the data suggest that the impacts of MA activities can extend beyond the individual level and influence shifts in both sports club culture and wider perceptions around disability. The paper closes by considering the implications of the research and outlines recommendations for future practice in this area.

Suggested Citation

  • Jen Dyer & Rachel Sandford, 2023. "‘Just Another Outing in a Boat’: Findings from the Evaluation of the Mixed Ability Sport Development Programme," Disabilities, MDPI, vol. 3(3), pages 1-17, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jdisab:v:3:y:2023:i:3:p:22-351:d:1184846
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7272/3/3/22/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7272/3/3/22/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Spaaij, Ramón & Schulenkorf, Nico & Jeanes, Ruth & Oxford, Sarah, 2018. "Participatory research in sport-for-development: Complexities, experiences and (missed) opportunities," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(1), pages 25-37.
    2. Ramón Spaaij & Nico Schulenkorf & Ruth Jeanes & Sarah Oxford, 2018. "Participatory research in sport-for-development: Complexities, experiences and (missed) opportunities," Sport Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(1), pages 25-37, January.
    3. Martino Corazza & Jen Dyer, 2017. "A New Model for Inclusive Sports? An Evaluation of Participants’ Experiences of Mixed Ability Rugby," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 5(2), pages 130-140.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mathieu Marlier & Bram Constandt & Cleo Schyvinck & Thomas De Bock & Mathieu Winand & Annick Willem, 2020. "Bridge over Troubled Water: Linking Capacities of Sport and Non-Sport Organizations," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(3), pages 139-151.
    2. Kang, Seungmin & Svensson, Per G., 2019. "Shared leadership in sport for development and peace: A conceptual framework of antecedents and outcomes," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 464-476.
    3. Sugden, Jack Thomas & Schulenkorf, Nico & Adair, Daryl & Frawley, Stephen, 2020. "The role of sport in reflecting and shaping group dynamics: The “intergroup relations continuum” and its application to Fijian rugby and soccer," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(2), pages 271-283.
    4. Yong-Yee Chong & Emma Sherry & Sophia Harith & Selina Khoo, 2022. "Sport for Development Programs Contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 5: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-16, June.
    5. Chiara D’Angelo & Chiara Corvino & Caterina Gozzoli, 2021. "The Challenges of Promoting Social Inclusion through Sport: The Experience of a Sport-Based Initiative in Italy," Societies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-16, May.
    6. Whitley, Meredith A. & Massey, William V. & Camiré, Martin & Blom, Lindsey C. & Chawansky, Megan & Forde, Shawn & Boutet, Mish & Borbee, Amanda & Darnell, Simon C., 2019. "A systematic review of sport for development interventions across six global cities," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 22(2), pages 181-193.
    7. Jones, Gareth J. & Edwards, Michael B. & Bocarro, Jason N. & Svensson, Per G. & Misener, Katie, 2020. "A community capacity building approach to sport-based youth development," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 563-575.
    8. Peter Memiah & Fernando A. Wagner & Robert Kimathi & Naomi Idah Anyango & Samuel Kiogora & Stella Waruinge & Faith Kiruthi & Shillah Mwavua & Celina Kithinji & Jeremiah Okuto Agache & Wincolyne Mangwa, 2022. "Voices from the Youth in Kenya Addressing Mental Health Gaps and Recommendations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-16, April.
    9. Chiara D'Angelo & Chiara Corvino & Eloisa Cianci & Caterina Gozzoli, 2020. "Sport for Vulnerable Youth: The Role of Multi-Professional Groups in Sustaining Intersectoral Collaboration," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(3), pages 129-138.
    10. Reinhard Haudenhuyse, 2017. "Introduction to the Issue “Sport for Social Inclusion: Questioning Policy, Practice and Research”," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 5(2), pages 85-90.
    11. Riot, Caroline & O’Brien, Wendy & Minahan, Clare, 2020. "High performance sport programs and emplaced performance capital in elite athletes from developing nations," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(5), pages 913-924.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jdisab:v:3:y:2023:i:3:p:22-351:d:1184846. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.