Based on the United States census from 2000, there are 49.7 million Americans over the age of four living with a disability. Each and everyone who, thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, are guaranteed equal access to society. Among others, this law mandated equal access to housing, transportation, and schools/workplaces with reasonable accommodation. Admittedly, office spaces and bus routes are not the most thrilling parts of life, but they are important for integration into one’s community.
Thankfully, soon after 1990, accommodations in these settings were widely accepted and enforced. However, one small part of the law that didn’t gather as much momentum was recreation. While the law stated that individuals with disabilities would have access to enter recreational facilities, what it fell short from was enforcing the availability of adaptive recreation and sports programs.
Flash forward a few years, and thankfully the momentum gained from the Americans with Disabilities Act did not let up. By 1996 the Paralympic Games had gained global sponsorship and finally, the world was taking note of adaptive sports. That same year, the American Association of Adaptive Sports Programs (AAASP) was formed. Over the past 25 years, the AAASP has continued working to standardize adaptive sports programs and create safety guidelines for athletes and coaches. Currently, they have received $2 million dollars in funding and maintain successful programing at nearly 3,000 sites nationwide. However, there is hard work that goes into creating and maintaining adaptive sports programs and ensuring inclusivity for the approximately 50 million people who deserve it.
Needs assessments
According to their website, the AAASP begins any potential new program with a “Needs Assessment”. This includes research into surrounding cities, counties, and districts to determine the likelihood of filling an adaptive sports team. To ensure long-term success a team not only needs eligible players but safe and accessible facilities as well. Even once need is determined, and a location secured, a program can face numerous financial hurdles.
Funding availability
Some adaptive sports utilize specialized equipment, which can be costly and typically not covered by insurance like an everyday mobility aid is. For example, a wheelchair designed for use in basketball might have wheels that are slightly angled as opposed to perpendicular to the floor, and a seat that lacks armrests or a headrest. These features may require more muscular endurance which can be unsustainable for everyday use. However, in return, they allow faster turning, less restricted arm movement, and increased ease for dribbling and manipulating a ball. Unfortunately, a chair like this can start at $2,200, with customizations for size or specific needs driving that even higher. The AAASP does provide insight into funding and grant opportunities to help with the financial barrier, but that process can be difficult. To put funding into perspective, the U.S. reportedly spends over 55 million dollars on sporting events annually, meanwhile, the AAASP has reportedly obtained 2 million dollars total since 1996. Clearly, funding still remains a critical problem to bringing inclusivity to sports and recreation.
Benefits of adaptive recreation
Flash forward again and imagine this perfect scenario: a team has been recruited, an accessible facility has been reserved and funding for equipment has been obtained. Even before the first official game, participants benefit from being a part of the adaptive sports team. Individuals may experience improved quality of life, reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety, and enhanced social life. These benefits can carry over into many aspects of their daily life, even their careers. A study from the University of Houston has reported a 4% spike in employment for individuals with disabilities who participate in an adaptive sports program. A new hobby that could come with a side of career, sounds like an easy win-win.
Work to do
When recalling that only 30 years ago this community received mandated rights to housing, education, and employment, the strides that have been made in recreation are impressive. However, when highlighting the benefits of adaptive sports and recreation programs, the current 2 million dollars and 3,000 programs are still entirely too low. To this day, individuals with disabilities continue to fight for equal access to adaptive sports and recreation programs proving once again, together this community is capable of taking on any battle required to achieve equality.
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