Disability

Last Updated on Monday, 20 May 2013 12:55

Definition

Disability refers to someone who has a physical, sensory or learning impairment which is long term and has an adverse affect on their ability to carry out normal day to day activities. This also includes people with progressive or degenerative illnesses such as cancer, HIV and MS.

Latest news

Disability Sport Wales (17 May 2013)
Major boost for disability sport in Wales as 2012 figures revealed
More disabled people in Wales are taking part in sport than ever before, figures from Disability Sport Wales (DSW) have revealed.

Nearly a year on from London 2012, the rise in participation reflects a trend over the past 10 years which has seen disability sport become one of the most successful community sporting programmes in Wales.

In 2002 there were just 30 clubs with a handful of members getting the chance to play sport in Wales.

Over the last year, disability sport clubs have increased by nearly 20% - growing from 269 to 331 - helping to boost membership by around 10%.

The number of participation opportunities delivered in 2012 rose from 927,000 opportunities to 1,012,000. There has also been an increase in the number of active coaches working on the programme, from 1,621 to 1,766, while volunteers have increased from 2,130 to 2,390.....
View the full news item

Scottish Disability Sport
Coach Support - Disability Coach Support of £250
One of the roles of SDS is to provide learning opportunities, therefore SDS is trying to provide new and tried and tested opportunities of learning to support coaches.

Really, SDS want to hear from you, what would make a difference to you as a coach? In order to encourage feedback SDS is offering coaches the chance to map out a learning opportunity for themselves and to be supported in making it become a reality. Coaches need to complete a coach’s profile and answer three simple questions in no more than 250 words per the questions:

What further skills and knowledge do you want to gain?
What outcomes will result from enhancing your skills and knowledge and how will your needs be met?

A panel ratified by the SDS Board will consider all the applications and make the £250 award. It is also hoped that the applicants’ needs can be met through different avenues.

The closing date is 30 May 2013.

Please contact the SDS Coaching and Education Manager, Heather Lowden, on 0131 625 4416. We do want to hear from you about what learning opportunity would make a difference, e.g. support for childcare, attending a conference, visiting abroad.
Source of information

English Institute of Sport (9 May 2013)
Paralympic Potential Launched To Discover New Talent For Rio 2016
Future Paralympic stars will have the chance to be fast-tracked on the road to Rio 2016 thanks to an exciting new initiative.

A partnership between UK Sport, The English Institute of Sport (EIS) and the British Paralympic Association (BPA) has launched Paralympic Potential: Bring on Brazil - the first Paralympic talent identification initiative since London 2012.

Competition is intense in Paralympic sport and the search is now on for new talent to prove they have “got what it takes for Rio”, to ensure continued success for ParalympicsGB after the team won a superb 120 medals at London 2012.......

Since 2007, the UK Talent Team have worked in partnership with 20 Olympic and Paralympic sports and over 100 World Class coaches and run eight national athlete recruitment campaigns assessing more than 7,000 athletes.

These projects have been highly successful and resulted in more than 100 athletes being selected by sports for the World Class Performance Programme with a total of 102 international medals won.

Athletes wishing to prove they have “got what it takes for Rio” can sign-up for at: www.paralympics.org.uk/potential with assessment days planned in June and July.
View the full news item

EFDS / IFI - Inclusive marketing in gyms workshops:

Wednesday 12 June 2013 9.30am – 12.30 pm, SportPark, Loughborough

Wednesday 19 June 2013 9.30am – 12.30 pm, Sport England Offices, London

We are delivering two FREE marketing workshops to reveal our ‘Marketing Gyms to Disabled People’ resource. The new resource is being launched to support IFI Mark facilities to attract more disabled people as gym members.
The two pilot workshops are for those IFI Mark facilities that want to proactively increase the numbers of disabled gym users at their facility and receive a sound return on their investment to inclusion. The resource and workshop will provide you with a better understanding of disabled people as a target market, how to adapt your marketing and outreach tools and develop an inclusive marketing campaign.

The half day workshops will be delivered by John Ainsworth of Make Sport Fun.

If you want to attract more disabled people to use your facility then This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Places are on a first come first served basis - limited to 15 delegates per workshop– one per facility.

To book your place on the workshop This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or telephone 01509 227750 to let us know which workshop you would like to attend.
Source of information

English Federation of Disability Sport (9 May 2013)
Panathlon Challenge returns to Stoke Mandeville
On Friday 10 May, the Panathlon Challenge returns to Stoke Mandeville for the second year. Seven counties will take part in the event, which is in its second year. The event is run in partnership with the English Federation of Disability Sport and supported by Everyone Active.

Schools from Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire will be competing in the multi-sport Panathlon Challenge. It aims to provide more opportunities for disabled children so they can represent their school in a fun but competitive environment.

The event features boccia, polybat, table cricket as well as track and field athletics events. Children with a range of impairments will take part with support from Panathlon young leaders, who have been especially trained to support of the activities. Leaders for this event are coming from the local Beaconfield and Alfriston School in Buckinghamshire................
View the full news item

Autism Initiatives NI (3 May 2013)
Surf Programme - volunteers needed
Interview with Pauline Graham, Health and Activity Coordinator, with Autism Initiatives.
Pauline talks about social inclusion activities and the importance of volunteers.
View the BBC Northern Ireland appeal (Duration1:47)

Also, please view the volunteer opportunity job description

View other news videos on the programme:

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p017tgzv

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0184ff4

English Federation of Disability Sport (2 May 2013)
Make a difference in sport - become an EFDS Trustee
.....Two of our Trustees retire from the Board in July and we are now looking for exceptional individuals to replace them. You do not have to be working in sport to apply, but share our passion to improve and increase opportunities for all. Enthusiasm for the subject, energy and a genuine desire to make a tangible difference to people’s lives are key attributes for a successful applicant. This, together with a skill set that ideally (but not essentially) will include experience in Finance or Marketing. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people whose own experience of sport and physical activity can inform our work, or from people working in the wider disability sector.
These are unpaid voluntary roles and will involve approximately eight days a year for Board meetings (usually held at SportPark, Loughborough), plus an away day and an expectation that Board members will be available for a limited number of key activities through the year including potential working groups and other mentoring opportunities. There is no age restriction to these roles and can often be a great way for you to gain more knowledge and skills from the current team.....

Applications received by Monday 3 June will be considered in time for recommendation to members at the Annual General Meeting in July 2013.

For those shortlisted, panel interviews will take place during week commencing 17 June.
To discuss the roles, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Chief Executive up until Friday 24 May (email Barry Horne or telephone 01509 227755) or our Chair, Charles Reed (email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

View the full details

An event for your awareness...

Glasgow Life and sportscotland - Commonwealth Sports Development Conference - Sport & Empowering the Youth of the Commonwealth
12 - 13 August 2013, The Mitchell Library, Glasgow, Scotland
The Conference is delivered in partnership between Glasgow Life and sportscotland, with this year’s title confirmed as Sport & Empowering the Youth of the Commonwealth.

The primary focus is on Youth for the two-day event, which will bring together keynote speakers, workshops and panel debates and will include two key sub-programmes:

Disability Sport and Young People – This will explore how the Paralympic Movement engages with the Commonwealth and the respective roles the public, private and third sectors play in developing accessible and inclusive sport within the Commonwealth

Empowering Girls and Young Women through Sport – “What needs to change?” – This session will identify the barriers and the opportunities for the engagement, inclusion and empowerment of girls and young women through sport
The Conference will focus on issues and potential solutions, with engaging and thought-provoking speakers. Delegates will be actively encouraged to contribute and become involved over the course of the conference.

View more details

British Paralympic Association (27 April 2013)
Cockroft hails ParalympicsGB Sports Fest a "fantastic success"
The second ParalympicsGB Sports Fest was hailed by double Paralympic gold medallist Hannah Cockroft today as a “fantastic success”.
Over 700 people attended over the course of the two-day event to try out different Paralympic sports and meet Paralympic athletes.
The festival of disability sport is the second held by the British Paralympic Association since the end of the London 2012 Games, following the inaugural event in Surrey in December last year. Over 20 Paralympic sports sent representatives, who provided demonstrations, come-and-try activities and information stands to the hundreds of attendees.........................

Sports Fest will be taken to other areas of the UK in the future. More details on future events will be announced in due course.
View the full news item

Inside the games reports (24 April 2013)
Stoke Mandeville to host 2014 World Junior Games
Stoke Mandeville Stadium has been chosen to host the 10th World Junior Games next year, it has been announced by the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWASF).

It will be the first time since it was launched in 2005 that the event, which is expected to feature 500 athletes aged under-23 from 50 countries competing in archery, athletics, powerlifting and table tennis, will be held at Stoke Mandeville.

It is scheduled to take place between August 3 and 8, 2014.

It is hoped that the Games will provide valuable competition for all up and coming youngsters and 2016 Rio Paralympic prospects and will take place just before the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) European Athletic Championships that are due to be staged in Swansea..........
View the full news item

The Telegraph (19 April 2013)
Apply for funding for your disability sports club
A grant from the BT/Sunday Telegraph Paralympic Momentum Programme could help your sport club to train a future Paralympian.
Both BT and The Sunday Telegraph have for some time been proud supporters of Paralympic sport and have started the BT/Sunday Telegraph Paralympic Momentum Programme, which will give sports clubs a helping hand.
Fifteen awards of £1,000 are available for sports clubs that encourage participation from people with disabilities.
A prestigious panel – including Sunday Telegraph editor Ian MacGregor, BT’s group marketing and brand director Suzi Williams, The Telegraph’s Gareth A Davies and Keith Perry, plus British Paralympic gold medallist Hannah Cockroft – will judge the entries.

Entry details
Entrants may nominate their own sports club only
Entries must be supported by two referees who are connected to but not necessarily a member of the club.
Written submissions must be in English and be no more than 250 words in length.
View more details

Cricket for Change (19 April 2013)
Lloyds TSB Foundation to support young disabled people with Team Tufnell
The Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales has awarded Cricket for Change a grant of £36,000 over two years. The funding will go towards the organisation’s new Team Tufnell project - a sport based “training for work” programme supporting disabled young people who are not in education, employment, or training.
The Team Tufnell project will engage with young disabled people, providing them with the opportunity to gain a sports coaching qualification and be part of the charity’s development team. This project builds on the charity’s previous ‘Hit the Top’ programme, extending it to include more work focused training and work placements...........
View the full news item

Leonard Cheshire Disability (18 April 2013)
Leonard Cheshire Disability appoints two new trustees
Leonard Cheshire Disability has appointed two new trustees with outstanding careers in the sporting world, Alastair Hignell and Mark Dyer.
Alastair Hignell, CBE, is a UK household name as an England rugby player, a talented county cricketer and sports broadcaster. He has been a teacher and television presenter as well as patron for the national multiple sclerosis charity, The Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre.

He said: ‘I am delighted to join the board of Leonard Cheshire Disability and look forward to supporting the charity’s vital work. It is essential that we improve the lives of disabled people with greater employment and leisure opportunities.’

Mark Dyer has championed improved access for disabled people throughout his career. In his most recent high-profile role, Mark was responsible for the travel and accessibility arrangements for disabled spectators attending the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

He said: ‘There has never been a better time to continue the inclusive approach shown at London 2012 and create a genuine legacy by improving access for disabled people. The Paralympics gave inspiration to so many individuals and proved what could be done so I’m looking forward to doing more with Leonard Cheshire Disability, and to getting involved in the charity’s campaigning work around access'.......
View the full news item

Special Olympics GB - 2013 National Summer Games
28 August – 1 September 2013, Bath University
Latest new (15 April 2013):
The countdown to the country’s biggest multi-sport disability event of the year continued with the formal signing of contracts for the University of Bath to host the Special Olympics GB 2013 National Summer Games.
The Games run from 28 August through to 1 September and will see more than 1,700 athletes with intellectual disabilities from across Great Britain taking part in a programme featuring 12 different sports.
The majority of sports will be held at the University of Bath’s high performance facilities and the University will also provide accommodation and catering during the Games.

Professor Kevin Edge, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bath, said the University is delighted to be hosting the four-yearly Games for the first time......

Nine of the 12 sports on the Bath 2013 programme will take place at the University of Bath – athletics, badminton, boccia, bowls, five-a-side football, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, table tennis and tennis, with golf to be held in the Bath Golf Club, whereas as Bristol will host aquatics in the Hengrove Park Leisure Centre and ten-pin bowling in Bowlplex.
View the full news item

View more details on the Games' site: www.bath2013.org.uk

sports coach UK (April 2013)
New Coaching Deaf People in Sport Workshop
scUK is delighted to announce the development of a brand-new workshop Effective Communication: Coaching Deaf People in Sport.
Developed in partnership with UK Deaf Sport and the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) – the interactive and practical workshop develops the communication skills a coach needs to enable deaf people to be fully included in sports and leisure activities.
It also helps all coaches develop their non-verbal communication skills so their day to day coaching sessions will improve.

The workshop includes information on:

the barriers facing participants
appropriate communication methods
how to support the needs of participants
the international pathway for competitors.

View the details

Leonard Cheshire Disability (15 April 2013)
Transport woes continue for disabled people despite Paralympics
Disabled people have reported more difficulties using public transport than there were three years ago, according to a survey conducted by the charity Leonard Cheshire Disability.
The charity’s latest research shows that, despite efforts to improve accessibility before the Paralympics, nearly 40% of disabled people who took part in the UK-wide survey of over a thousand said they had difficulties using public transport. This figure (37%) is ten percent higher than the equivalent figure in the charity’s survey in 2009 (27%).
The most common issues raised by disabled people were:

Lack of staff training and disability awareness: many disabled people said they weren’t getting adequate support when they asked for it and some reported negative staff attitudes.
Inadequate staffing levels: sometimes disabled people were unable to get support because there was no one there to help or staff were too busy.
Poor accessibility on websites and poor signage in stations: people with visual and hearing impairments said they faced difficulties navigating in stations and booking tickets online.

Leonard Cheshire Disability is today submitting evidence to the Transport Select Committee, using the findings of their research to provide evidence of the barriers disabled people face accessing public transport.....
View the full news item - includes case studies

English Federation of Disability Sport (10 April 2013)
Calling young disabled people to join in the sporting fun
In May, the English Federation of Disability Sport will deliver three days of sporting fun for young disabled people at the home of disability sport- Stoke Mandeville Stadium. The Festival of Sport is being held on 10-12 May 2013 and is for 6 to 16 year olds with all impairments to try a range of sports. Supported by Everyone Active, the event is free for participants to take part*.

The event is so popular that is has featured on the Disability Sport Events (DSE) calendar for over twenty years. DSE is the events programme for the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS), the national body for disabled people in sport or physical activity throughout England. This Festival at Stoke Mandeville is just one of the opportunities in the programme, which encourages young disabled people to find a sport and enjoy the benefits of being active..........
View the full news item

Disability Sport Wales (8 April 2013)
Welsh Football Trust and Special Olympics GB Launch New Games Programme
A new games programme launched on Sunday April 7th 2013 at Heath Park, Cardiff. The Welsh Football Trust in conjunction with Special Olympics GB have created additional playing opportunities for footballers with a disability with events scheduled to take place in the North and South of the Country.

The event on April 7th, hosted by Cardiff City FC Community Foundation saw 9 teams participate from across South Wales at under 16 and over 16 age groups. The next round of fixtures will take place at the Court Road Complex, Court Road, Wrexham on May 5th 2013 and will be hosted by Brickfield Rangers FC.

For more information about the new initiative or the disability football programme in Wales please contact: Rob Franklin, Regional Development Coordinator, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / 01633 282911
Source of information

Disability Sport Wales (22 March 2013)
Swansea, Wales to Host 2014 IPC Athletics European Championships
Swansea, Wales will stage the 2014 IPC Athletics European Championships, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced, the first time the event has been held in Great Britain.

Around 600 athletes from 40 countries will compete in the event which will be staged at Swansea University between 18 and 23 August 2014. It will be the first major international multi-day para-athletics event to be held in Great Britain following the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

The successful bid, submitted by Swansea University was based on a strong partnership approach involving the Welsh Government, the City and County of Swansea, Disability Sport Wales and British Athletics....
View the full news item

British Paralympic Association (22 March 2013)
BPA congratulate Swansea on successful 2014 IPC European Athletics Championships bid
The British Paralympic Association (BPA) sends congratulations to the successful Swansea bid to host the IPC European Athletics Championships in 2014.

Tim Hollingsworth, Chief Executive of the BPA, said:

“This is fantastic news for disability sport in the UK. The London 2012 Paralympic Games demonstrated that the British public have a big appetite for disability sport and this event will provide them with a further excellent opportunity to see elite level disability sport.

“The success of the Swansea bid means our athletes will have the opportunity to compete at an elite level on home soil once again in 2014, and I am confident that this event will form a crucial part of their preparations for Rio in 2016. It also provides the British public with an opportunity once again to show their support British athletes as they take on the best in the world......
View the full news item

England Athletics (18 March 2013)
Blind and Visually Impaired Run England group launched in Sutton
The first blind and visually impaired Run England group of its kind in the country successfully launched last Sunday 10th of March. Many Blind and Visually Impaired (BVI) running enthusiasts attended the launch of the group and took part in the session on the indoor sprint track at Sutton Arena Leisure Centre. The group had a great ethos with people from simply wanting to get fitter to already established Blind or Visually Impaired runners wanting to improve their racing times!
The group will be a weekly running group welcome to all blind and visually impaired runners or joggers!

The group will run every Sunday morning 11am-12pm meeting at Beddington Park in Sutton. A pickup service can be arranged from Wallington Station to Beddington Park for those requiring it...........
View more details

English Federation of Disability Sport (15 March 2013)
EFDS seek tenders for access improvement guide resource
EFDS continually seek to provide well-researched, appropriate and user-friendly resources to sport providers, including sports clubs. These support them to provide a welcoming environment for disabled people. Recent resource examples include the online toolkits Diversity Challenge:www.diversitychallenge.co.uk and Inclusive Club Hub:www.inclusion-club-hub.co.uk

To compliment this growing portfolio, EFDS seek to commission a good practice guide for sports providers to improve physical access to sports venues for disabled people.
Ultimately this publication will form part of a range of resources, which will cover topics such as coaching and training, policy and procedures, accessible equipment, engagement with disabled people in sport, inclusive sports events and funding, etc........

Potential tenderers are invited to submit their proposals (including proposed budget breakdown) and should be sent by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by 5pm on 26 March 2013.
View the full details

Level Playing Fields Weeks Action - 2013 Campaign
The 2013 Level Playing Field Weeks of Action will take place from the 6th to the 21st of April
This is a real opportunity for clubs to highlight the positive work that they do for their disabled supporters, and Level Playing Field urges all Clubs to get involved.
The two week period should give each club and/or organisation the opportunity to have a home game or an event in which they can showcase the work they are doing.

If something cannot be planned between those dates, Level Playing Field is happy for events to take place outside of the two week window.

Level Playing Field would like to know what is happening beforehand so that they can help publicise events via the e-newsletter and on their website.

There is a lot of positive work going on around the sports world and Level Playing Field feels that clubs should use the weeks of action to show their fans and other clubs what they are doing. It is also an opportunity for clubs to remind their supporters that they will not tolerate disability abuse on the terraces and to highlight disability awareness to all fans.

View a list of suggested activities

Download a programme template

Please contact Level Playing Field if you are planning any events, would like the LPF logo. If you have any other questions around the weeks of action via email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone on 01244 893 584.

Source of information

BBC - Disability Sport (7 March 2013)
Mixed picture for disability sport post Paralympic Games
The London Paralympics were a breakthrough, teaching us all to focus on the abilities rather than disabilities of the extraordinary athletes on show.

That in itself was some achievement.

Six months on it's far more difficult to get a clear picture of the genuine sporting impact of the Games.

Evidence gathered by the British Paralympic Association and the English Federation for Disability Sport suggests something remarkable has been happening. Increasing numbers of disabled people are now seeing sport as a vital part of their lives.
Here are a few statistics which they say back up the point:

25% more people playing wheelchair basketball
Participation in wheelchair rugby up by a third
A thousand people turning up to try out a range of different Paralympic sports at the British Paralympic Association's first SportFest in Guildford in December

These are green shoots. And a survey by the Sport and Recreation Alliance published in December painted a less healthy picture.

It said almost 90% of the sports clubs they surveyed had seen no change in interest from disabled people.

As with all surveys this one had its flaws, but it provided a healthy counter point to the overwhelming urge to imagine everyone in a wheelchair had been inspired to emulate David Weir......
View the full news item

Inside the games reports (4 March 2013)
BT Paralympic World Cup scrapped, confirms top official
British Paralympic Association (BPA) chief executive Tim Hollingsworth confirmed that the BT Paralympic World Cup will no longer exist but said that plans for a new disability multi-sport event are now in the pipeline.

The BT Paralympic World Cup, the largest annual international multi-sport competition in the world for disability sport, had been staged annually in Manchester since 2005 after being formed by the BPA in collaboration with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC)..........
View the full news item

EFDS reports (27 February 2013)
Whizz-Kidz launches Generation Inspired report
The charity Whizz-Kidz launches its ‘Generation Inspired?’ manifesto at Parliament today. It is fronted by GB double gold medallist Hannah Cockroft MBE, who will later deliver the report to No.10 Downing Street.
The ‘Generation Inspired?’ manifesto is based on a late 2012 survey the charity conducted of its young Ambassadors and their parents - asking them about their hopes for a Paralympic legacy, and their ideas to improve opportunities for young disabled people.
Backing the report is Sir Philip Craven MBE, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), and ex-beneficiary of Whizz-Kidz, Hannah Cockroft MBE. She received her first sports chair from the charity in 2007.............................................................................
The Whizz-Kidz research was undertaken via our young Ambassadors and their families from September 2012 – January 2013 through an online survey, focus groups and phone-calls. There were 117 respondents, whose opinions, experiences and recommendations are
reflected in this manifesto. They also drew on anecdotal evidence from young disabled
people and their parents obtained through the Whizz-Kidz Ambassador Network; which has over a thousand members, many of whom attend Whizz-Kidz Ambassador Clubs, Wheelchair Skills Training or life skills services.
View the full news item and access the report

EFDS reports (18 February 2013)
Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive PE training for England launched
Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive PE training in England was launched at Youth Sport Trust's School Sport Conference on 6 February 2013. Over 40 teachers attended an introductory session of the Active Kids for All Inclusive PE training held at the Conference in Telford......

Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive PE training has been designed and developed by the four home country disability sport organisations and supported by the British Paralympic Association and the Youth Sport Trust through the Sainsbury’s Paralympic Sponsorship programme.
The training is primarily designed to support PE teachers from mainstream schools to include young disabled people within PE curriculum. However the principles used can be applied to a number of settings and can be of benefit to all young people.

This workshop is designed to help teachers to embed inclusive practice in their planning, delivery and assessment within the curriculum. It provides teachers with a clearer understanding of the needs of all pupils and to be able to use teaching strategies to ensure all pupils are engaged and make good progress, both of which are essential in outstanding teaching.

To book your free training place please visit: Inclusive PE

View the full news item

Office for Disability Issues (13 February 2013)
Fulfilling potential - working together to empower disabled people
On 13 February 2013 the Government published ‘Fulfilling Potential: Building a deeper understanding of disability in the UK today’.

The aims of ‘Fulfilling Potential: Building Understanding’ are:

to provide an analysis of the current evidence on disability in the UK to inform the development of the next stage of work on Fulfilling Potential – the development of actions, outcomes and indicators
to inform public understanding and prompt debate about disability and the issues faced by disabled people
to raise awareness, drive a change in attitudes and support an increase in commitment to improving the lives of disabled people in the UK today

The main document is structured in two parts:
Part 1 provides analysis of the number of disabled people in the UK as well as looking at the way disability develops over the life course and at the fluctuating nature of disability.
Part 2 focuses on the lives of disabled people by looking at trends in outcomes and barriers to taking part in different areas of life.
The evidence is structured around the Fulfilling Potential: Next Steps themes of early intervention; choice and control and inclusive communities.

The main document summarises the analytical evidence on disability. It does not make policy recommendations but the evidence presented here will inform the work of the Disability Action Alliance and the development of government policy on disability
Access the documents

UK Deaf Sport (12 February 2013)
Notice of Deaf UK Athletics Open Meeting - 9 March 2013
UKDS is supporting the Deaf UK Athletics first-ever Annual General Meeting on Saturday 9th March. Anyone interested in becoming involved with, or supporting Deaf athletics is encouraged to attend.

Stuart Harrison, UKDS Vice Chair, will be at the meeting, where a new Committee will be formed. Please download the papers which Deaf UK Athletics have prepared to say if you will be attending.

Stuart Harrison, UKDS Vice Chair says:

"For the first time, athletics will have the robust governance and financial procedures in place in order to increase the number of deaf people taking up the sport and reaching their full potential.

"UKDS will work closely with UKDS to create a strategy and business plan that aligns to common elements outlined in UK Deaf Sport's own strategy."

..........

A Deaflympics update will follow the meeting.

The meeting will take place from 1pm at the Leigh Sport Village, in Leigh, Greater Manchester. The full address is:

Leigh Harriers Athletic Club
Leigh Sports Village
Turner Way
Leigh
WN7 4GX

View the full news item

Sport Northern Ireland (February 2013)
Draft Disability Action Plan
Sport Northern Ireland is currently consulting on their Draft Disability Action Plan and is asking for submissions to be made by 4.00 pm on 14 May 2013.
Access a copy of the consultation document

Engender (12 February 2013)
Scotland - Women and Disability Survey
Engender, Inclusion Scotland and Scottish Disability Equality Forum are working in partnership to host a series of events on Women and Disability.

To inform these events we have prepared a short survey

This survey is to find out what are the key issues facing women with a disability or women’s experiences of caring for a person with a disability.

The information from this survey will enable us to shape the events we will be hosting during April/May 2013 – dates to be confirmed.

If you are a woman and have been affected by disability in your life, please help us in completing this survey. Or forward this onto to someone who can complete this.

Your contribution is appreciated. Once details of the events have been confirmed, we will be sending invitations out shortly.

The closing date for this survey is 1 March 2013.

If you have any questions at all regarding this survey, please contact Morven Brooks This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 01259 272063.

Source of information

English Federation of Disability Sport (11 February 2013)
EFDS welcome three new Engagement Officers
This year, the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) received national partner funding from Sport England to support the increase of disabled people in sport. Part of this funding is to support County Sports Partnerships (CSPs) to deliver more opportunities for disabled people, through NGB programmes and other offers. To help achieve this EFDS has appointed three Engagement Officers and today welcomes them to the family.

Tom Webster, who previously worked for Badminton England as the National Disability lead, will be our North Engagement officer and will be responsible for the North East, North West and Yorkshire Regions.

Mark Fosbrook, who previously worked for Sport Across Staffordshire CSP as their county disability lead, will be our Midlands/South West Engagement Officer and will cover the East and West Midlands and South West Regions.

Jon Whittingham who previously worked for Middlesex FA as their Disability lead will be our South Engagement officer and cover the East and South East Regions.

These three positions will work closer with CSPs to:

Build stronger working partnerships with disabled people’s organisations that support National Disability Sports Organisations (NDSOs) to increase their membership and engage with new audiences and groups.
Support and understand the landscape at county level with County Sports Partnerships.
Support the development of an effective disability sport engagement infrastructure- supporting the delivery of sub-national interventions.
Utilise resources to ensure good practice and CSPs undertake an "improvement journey" (likened to equality standard)

View the full details

Spotted this short ' legacy' case study in February 2013:

Local Government Association
Case study - Swale's legacy for disabled women and girls
Working in partnership with Sheppey United FC, Swale Borough Council's sports development team has developed a women and girls football training session for anyone over the age of 12 who has a disability or condition that affects their everyday life. Fully-trained coaches will work with the team of young girls and women to develop or improve their football skills. The trainee footballers will work towards developing a team which will be entered into the South London Special League and go on to play against similar teams across the southeast.
The Kent Football Association is supporting the initiative and has provided advice, guidance and some funding to support the development of the newly-formed girls disability team.
Source of information

Legislation

Under the Equality Act 2010, a person is protected from the point of diagnosis. The Act also creates a duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people where they would be at a substantial disadvantage if the adjustments were not made. This includes making adjustments to criterion, requirements and practices, as well as physical features such as buildings.

Discrimination arising from a disability means that a person is treated less favorably because of something arising in consequence of their disability. There is no discrimination, though, if it can be shown that the person discriminating did not know and could not reasonably have been expected to know of the other person’s disability. Direct and indirect discrimination is unlawful, as is harassment.

A person is protected under the Act if they are associated with someone who is disabled, such as being a carer, even though they are not disabled themselves.

For further information on the Equality Act 2010, visit the Legislation page of this Website.

Research

Other resources

British Deaf Association (December 2012)
Deaf Children and Young People's right - a new support film
British Deaf Association have recently launched a film produced by Deaf young people about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) aimed at Deaf Children and Young People to give equal access to all in British Sign Language, to empower Deaf young people with the knowledge to increase awareness of their rights, responsibilities and participation

This film was produced by Deffo! Welsh Deaf Youth Forum and BDA with support from ProMo-Cymru and CLIConline, also funded by Welsh Government in building a resources that is the first of its kind in Wales aimed specifically at Deaf Children and Young People which informs them of their rights in BSL.
Access the film

Inclusion Club Hub - on-line tool
This tool has been created by the English Federation of Disability Sport to help clubs to include more disabled people in their activities. It can be used in a variety of ways within your club.
You can use it to audit your club to see how inclusive you are or as a resource to support your club's development. Perhaps use it to develop a club action plan, support your Clubmark process, or your general planning.
This toolkit will give you ideas, methods and resources to ensure everyone has a positive club experience. We have included case studies and better practice examples, so you can learn from others.

Access the on-line tool at: www.inclusion-club-hub.co.uk

Resources 2012 onwards:

Living In Another World: Joint Review of Disability Hate Crime. Executive summary Criminal Justice Joint Inspection, March 2013 (7 pages)
This joint review considered how the police, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and probation trusts deal with the complex area known as disability hate crime. This has involved a consideration of not only
the policies/procedures and actions of the three agencies, but also social attitudes and barriers that exist in relation to disabled people more generally. They are linked together.
Whist disability hate crime is one of the five hate crime strands, (the others being race, religion, sexual orientation or transgender identity) there needs to be an acknowledgment that it has a unique position
and requires additional status, simply to ensure that it is treated on an equal footing to the other strands. Disability is an area where social attitudes are still ill informed.
Download a copy

View the full 66-page report

Barriers to dance training for young people with disabilities. Dance 4, March 2013 (15 pages)
Dance is a viable and enjoyable activity – and potential career – for young people with disabilities, yet they face several barriers to participation and training. The aim of this paper is to review the literature around barriers to dance training for young disabled people and to put forward practical recommendations for overcoming these challenges. The main barriers identified were aesthetic, attitudinal, training-related and logistical in nature, with further barriers related to physical access and a lack of knowledge or available information about opportunities.
One of the key recommendations for overcoming these barriers is to build an effective network between special and mainstream schools, dance studios, youth dance groups and professional integrated dance companies in order to encourage dance participation at a range of levels and support young disabled people throughout their dance journeys.
Download a copy

Generation Inspired? A Paralympics legacy for young disabled people. Whizz Kidz, February 2013 (11 pages)
The recommendations set out in this manifesto show that for the young people who have already started their Whizz-Kidz journey, the Paralympics provided tremendous inspiration, and they are keen to see the legacy extend across society.
However, nothing is more important than fulfilling each disabled child’s fundamental human
right to the appropriate mobility equipment. If we can’t do this, we will fail a whole generation of young disabled people, thwarting their ambitions.
Let’s make the enduring legacy of the Paralympic Games one which provides all young disabled people with the equipment, opportunities and support to make the most of their lives, giving them their own chance to shine and reach their potential.
Download a copy

The following toolkit from the CAAN in Northern Ireland isn't dated but it was received in late January to add to this website:

Toolkit to Success: Creating accessible websites and publications. Venture Outdoors - Creating Healthy Communities, Countryside Access Activities Network Northern Ireland, no date – received January 2013 (20 pages)
This ‘Toolkit to Success’ has been compiled by Venture Outdoors - Creating Healthy Communities in conjunction with a range of experts in order to highlight how to create websites and print publications that are accessible to underrepresented communities wishing to avail of information on outdoor recreation.
This toolkit will focus on 3 underrepresented communities; people with disabilities, minority ethnic and disadvantaged communities.
Download a copy

Guide to support and attract people with a visual impairment to use the gym. English Federation of Disability Sport and British Blind Sport, no date, announced January 2013 (3 pages)
This leaflet provides general advice on communication and how to market your facility to Blind or visually impaired people. However remember that a person’s visual impairment is unique to them and their needs will differ. Do not assume what their impairment means and always - ask the person what support they may require.
This information will support staff at IFI Mark gyms.
Download a copy

Guide to supporting and attracting wheelchairs users to the gym. English Federation of Disability Sport and Wheelpower - British Wheelchair Sport, no date, announced January 2013 (3 pages)
This leaflet provides general advice on communication and how to market your facility to wheelchair users. However, remember that a person’s impairment is unique to them and their needs will differ. Do not assume what their impairment means and always ask the person what support they may require.
This information will support staff at IFI Mark gyms
Download a copy

Guide to supporting and attracting Deaf and hearing impaired people to use the gym. English Federation of Disability Sport and UK Deaf Sport, no date, 2012? (3 pages)
This leaflet provides general advice on communication - please consider that everyone is individual and their communication needs may differ - ask the person and don’t make assumptions about their impairment.
This information will support staff at IFI Mark gyms
Download a copy

Accessibility review for deaf and deafblind people. Learning legacy: Lessons learned from planning and staging the London 2012 Games. Author: Josef Baines, Chair of Deaf Community Outreach Team, LOCOG. London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, December 2012 (30 pages)
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) was mandated to ensure that it delivered the most accessible Games possible. As part of this, LOCOG aimed to establish new equality and inclusion standards for future sport event organisers to aspire to and achieve. The overarching aim of this deaf-led report is to share deaf people’s experiences with sport event organisers and suppliers to improve communication access for deaf people at future sporting events.

The accessibility review for deaf and deafblind people focuses on lessons learned both prior to and during the London 2012 Games. This report outlines highlights and successes of the London 2012 Games, as well as key challenges that future sport event organisers and suppliers can learn from.

The report also provides a breakdown of recommendations, approved by a consortium of deaf led organisations and organisations working with deaf people. The most pertinent lesson that LOCOG has learned is the need to work closely with these organisations at the commencement of any projects in order to avoid deaf people enduring negative experiences at later stages.
Download a copy

Does your gym work out for disabled people? A report into disabled people’s access to gyms, exercise facilities and swimming pools in the UK [Exercise your rights]. Leonard Cheshire Disability, announced autumn 2012, released December 2012 (22 pages)
During the summer of sport in 2012 campaigners across the UK took part in our Exercise your Right campaign to survey as many gyms, fitness centres and swimming pools as possible to see how accessible sport is, in the UK.
We ended up with more than 300 detailed surveys and personal accounts, enabling us to build a picture of access across the UK. This report brings together those surveys and combines them with helpful information, ideas and best practice to help gyms, fitness centres and swimming pools reach more disabled people.
Download a copy

You can also view a video that accompanies this report

Multiple identity; Multiple Exclusions and Human Rights: The experiences of people with disabilities who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people living in Northern Ireland. The Rainbow Project, 22 November 2012 (190 pages)
This project was developed from exploratory discussions in 2011 between Disability Action and The Rainbow Project and the recognition by both organisations that very little was known about people with disabilities who identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual and/or transgender (LGB&T) in Northern Ireland.
The purpose of this research was to explore the everyday experiences of this group, to offer practical information and suggest best practice to groups and organisations engaging with them, to raise awareness of the issues involved, highlight areas for further work and to explore aspects of this complex multiple identity. Equally important was the need to offer people with disabilities who identified as LGB and/or T a platform through which to have their voices heard by all of us.
Download a copy

Fit as a fiddle: delivering physical activity for older disabled people. Age UK, October 2012 (26 pages)
This guide was produced with and for Age UK to support older disabled people in fitness. It has been written by the EFDS based on experience from its well-established Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) programme. The IFI programme supports the leisure industry to become accessible to disabled people and encourage more disabled people to take part inphysical activity. Recommendations and good practice are supported by learning and project outcomes of Age UK Fit as a Fiddle, which champions physical activity, healthy eating and wellbeing programmes for older people.
Download a copy

Guide to support and attract people with a learning disability to use the gym. English Federation of Disability Sport et al, October 2012 (3 pages)
The following guidance has been written by the Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI), a programme managed by the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS). In partnership with Mencap Sport , this information will support staff at IFI Mark gyms to communicate and market their facility more effectively to customers with a learning disability.
Download a copy

Out in the open: Tackling disability related harassment. A manifesto for change. Equalities and Human Right Commission, 23 October 2012 (36 pages)
This new report from the Commission shows that some agencies are making real strides in preventing harassment of disabled people but much more needs to be done.
Download a copy

EFDS Legacy Questionnaire Report October 2012: Measuring the impact of the Olympic and Paralympic Games on disabled and non-disabled people. English Federation of Disability Sport, October 2012 (21 pages)
The results from our survey suggest the Paralympic Games had a positive impact on people’s awareness, perceptions and attitudes of disabled people in sport. This was particularly evident among non-disabled people. Although it was small scale, the EFDS ‘Pass the Baton’ campaign successfully built upon the mood created by the Paralympics to help raise awareness further.
Download a copy

Fulfilling Potential:The Discussions So Far. Working together to enable disabled people to fulfil their potential and have opportunities to play a full rule in society. Office For Disability Issues, September 2012 (86 pages)
This document focuses on what disabled people have told us and what we as Government currently have planned or are already working on. It builds on what we have said in our 2011 report to the United Nations about our commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People and what disabled people told us when we were producing the report. It is clear that whilst this shows part of the picture in terms of what is happening now, it is by no means a complete picture. We need to acknowledge the role of all sectors in society at all levels. As we develop our plans and actions, we will ensure that we involve other sectors, particularly disabled people’s organisations and those involved in disability issues, as well as the private sector.
Download a copy

Fulfilling Potential: Next Steps. Working together to enable disabled people to fulfil their potential and have opportunities to play a full rule in society. Office For Disability Issues, September 2012 (42 pages)
So this document announces the setting up of a new disability action alliance. Disabled people will be at the heart of the alliance, leading the way, to ensure the policies and actions taken forward really will make a difference to the daily lives of disabled people and increase understanding in all of us. Partners from across the private, public, voluntary and community sectors will join us.
This marks a clear commitment from this Government to collaboration and partnership, and will mark a significant step forward in our aim to change the relationship between the state and the individual and between individuals within our communities.
Download a copy

Disability Swimmer ID Toolkit. Amateur Swimming Association, August 2012 (37 pages)
Developed by Disability Swimming Officers from the Home Nations, this simple and straightforward resource can be used by schools, swimming teachers, coaches, parents and swimming co-ordinators.
The aim of the Toolkit is not to simply find the most talented swimmers, but to identify swimmers at all levels and give them the opportunity to access the disability swimming pathway and progress.
Download a copy

Leaflet for clubs to encourage new disability club members. Amateur Swimming Association, August 2012 (single page)
This leaflet provides information clubs need to encourage new disability swimmers including how, why and who can help.
Download the single page leaflet

Participation statistics from Sport England (August 2012)
Active People Survey 6
Active People Survey 6 results for a range of specific groups, for the rolling 12 month period April 2011 – April 2012, have been made available this month.
This includes data for:

Participation by Disability - weekly sports participation for the period April 2011 - April 2012 – access the spreadsheet

Source of information

Sportivate success with disability projects. Case study. Sport England, in 2012 (5 pages)
Sportivate already has some great example of how the needs of disabled people are being met in communities across the country - this case study looks at some examples.
Download a copy

A strategy to improve the lives of disabled people –2012–2015 [Draft for consultation]. Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minster, Northern Ireland, March 2012 (55 pages)
A consultation document has been published to seek your views on the Executive’s draft Disability Strategy. It sets out the key priorities that we believe will be crucial in addressing the barriers that disabled people face.
Download a copy

Access to sport facilities for people with disabilities: Design and management guidelines. Sport Northern Ireland and Disability Sport Northern Ireland, 2012 (46 pages)
Although the good design of buildings is crucially important in improving the sports opportunities available to people with
disabilities, good design alone will not remove all the barriers encountered by people with disabilities. Decisions on how
the sports facility is managed and how its programmes and services are developed are equally important, and as such are addressed in Sections 3 and 4 of these guidelines.
Download a copy

WSFF/ EFDS workshop presentation - Inclusive V Exclusive . Prepared by Marie Dixon, EFDS Senior National Development Manager, March 2012 (52 slides)
This workshop, given at the Fit 4 Women 2012 Conferences in London and Manchester, highlights the the importance of disabled women and girls as a market. The presentation shares good practice on how existing programmes can be adapted to provide an inclusive offer and provides an opportunity for discussion and debate on how to make positive changes in your area or sport.
Download the presentation

Action for Access Campaigns pack. Leonard Cheshire Disability, 2012 (23 pages)
Action for Access is the campaign for an accessible UK. Every day disabled people face barriers to doing things like, going to the doctor, using the bank, going shopping or catching a bus. Despite equality laws much of the UK still remains inaccessible to many disabled people.
Action for Access gives you the chance to start putting this right. Whether you’re a disabled person, a business, a shopkeeper or service provider, an elected representative, or an interested individual, we can all take Action for Access.
Download a copy of the campaign pack

View more details about the campaign

Older resources:

Badminton England Disability Strategy: The strategic vision for badminton in England for disabled people. Badminton England , June 2011 (18 pages)
Their strategy to develop the game for disabled people, aiming to: - growing participation, improving standards of provision and to be considered a ‘fit for purpose’ organisation for disability badminton.
Download a copy

Disability Football Strategy 2010 – 2012: making the difference – a framework for disability football. Football Association, 2010 (15 pages)
The development of a clear strategy to ensure the further development of disability football and to build on this
success is one of The FA’s strategic imperatives and is embedded in both The FA Strategic Vision and the National
Game Strategy (both covering 2008-2012).
Download a copy

BME sports participation in selected sports: Results and Data identified from Active People, Ploszajski Report and Taking Part Survey. Sporting Equals, December 2010 (16 pages)
A statistical analysis from data from key surveys, etc.
Download a copy

Disability Action Plan 2010- 2013. England Athletics, December 2010 (8 pages)
It identifies the additional positive actions, partnership working and culture change needed to ensure that the England
Athletics’ mission, priorities and goals can be truly achieved for all athletes.It also clearly demonstrates the shared responsibility and understanding needed across the whole sport as everyone who is involved in 'athletics' is involved in 'disability athletics'.
Download a copy

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities:What does it mean to you? A guide for disabled people and disabled people’s organisations. Equality and Human Rights Commission, summer 2010 (57 pages)
The Convention is not just a paper ‘declaration’ without any teeth. It requires government to take action to remove barriers and give disabled people real freedom, dignity and equality. We can use it in lots of different ways to make sure our rights are respected and to get a better deal.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is working hard to raise awareness of the Convention among disabled people, legal advisers and public bodies.
Download a copy

Disability Awareness Pack: Coaching Disabled Players. England and Wales Cricket Board, 2009 (8 pages)
This pack is designed for use by coaches working with cricketers with a disability, however it is just as relevant for all coaches, after all every group presents a mix of abilities. As such this pack has been devised to offer coaches some insight into strategies to use when coaching disabled players.
Download a copy

More older resources:

Equality in Sport