The Disability Policy Centre, founded in partnership by Disability Power 100 supporter, Celia Chartres-Aris, working with Soda and 2023 DP 100 sponsor, Nimbus Disability, have launched their Power of Sport report.
The timely report features case studies from several of the DP 100 community, including 2023 finalist, Isaac Harvey MBE
“For sport to be accessible for disabled people you need a real sense of community, where everyone can feel included. We need people to assume disabled people can play sport and enjoy it as much as anyone else, otherwise negative assumptions can become true,” he says.
Isaac Harvey MBE is a disability advocate, content creator and is president at Wheels and Wheelchairs
His advocacy has broadened access to sports for disabled individuals and challenged societal perceptions of disability. He emphasises that sports provide health benefits, community engagement and fulfilment and that everyone, regardless of ability, should have the opportunity to participate.
Breaking down barriers
The report highlights the barriers that still face disabled people in sport, whether as spectators or participants and offers practical ways to break these down.
Key findings include:
– 51.8% of disabled people surveyed were prevented from watching sport due to a lack of accessibility in their venue of choice
– 49.1% of respondents said that there were a lack of suitable options to play sport, or take part in physical activity, near where they lived
– 26.4% said that the lack of Social Care support was what prevented them from taking part in the activity they wish
– 22.6% said that Accessible Transport was a major barrier for them.
Overall, it concludes that much work has been done, but there’s still a long way to go to achieve meaningful change in sport – particularly at a grassroots level and in the culture of society, to break down barriers for disabled people.