Sports for the Physically Disabled

Following the Second World War, in response to the many injuries that ex servicemen and civilians, organized sport for people with physical disabilities were developed out of rehabilitation programs. Sport played for rehabilitation purposes, soon evolved into recreational, then competitive sport.

Whilst the Olympic games were being played in 1948, Sir Ludwig Guttman from the Stoke Mandeville Hospital, England had arranged a sports competition for wheelchair users at the aforementioned hospital. These became known as the Stoke Manville Games, which evolved into the Paralympic Games we have and know today.

Competing in sports is a great way for people with physical disabilities to become more confident and interact with people in the same situation as them. In fact the mission of Disabled Sports USA is "To provide the opportunity for individuals with disabilities to gain confidence and dignity through participation in sports, recreation and related educational programs."

Disabled Sports USA is a great organization, which offers nationwide sports rehabilitation programs to all people with permanent disabilities. The activities that they offer include skiing, water sports, summer and winter competitions. Disabled conditions accepted include those with amputations, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and other neuromuscular conditions. http://www.dsusa.org/

Currently athletes who participate in these Paralympic sports (summer and winter competitions) are grouped into one of six categories, depending on their disability:

(1) Amputee: People with total or partial amputation of one or more limbs.

(2) Cerebral Palsy: Athlete with non progressive neurological disorders affecting muscle control and co-ordination. This can be from cerebral palsy, stroke or brain injury.

(3) Intellectual Disability: Athletes who have a significant intellectual impairment.

(4) Les autres: les autres is French for ‘the others’, and covers mobility impairment disabilities, or other physical disabilities not covered by the other catergories. Examples might include multiple sclerosis or dwarfism.

(5) Visually impaired: People who have a permanent visual impairment ranging from partially sighted to blindness.

(6) Wheelchair: Athletes who have a disability that means that they have to compete using a wheelchair. This includes people with spinal cord injuries, persons with polio and lower limb amputees.

Competitive games include:

A great list of sports related links for disabled people can be found here: http://www.makoa.org/sports.htm

These are just a selection of the types of sports available to people with disabilities. I must really stress that they are great ways to meet new people, gain confidence and recognition and be more positive.