Many barriers remain for people with disability to engage fully in sports and physical activity compared to other Australians. Disability support staff are often only available to support people with disability to attend congregate and segregated day programs or segregated sheltered employment programs during normal business hours from Monday to Friday. The institutionalised nature of these activity programs is largely constructed around carer respite needs and disability residential care facilities that allow very little choice and freedom for individuals. Little or no support funding is available for after-hours participation which restricts social inclusion and participation when most of the community is enjoying recreation.
Case Study
“There is no opportunity for people to attend events at night due to restriction of transport and support staff hours at night time.”647
Insufficient funding characterises most of the problems faced by people with disability participating in sport. Support for grass roots participation and pathways to elite level competition are lacking due to the largely voluntary nature of the workforce in this area. Disability support costs present a major challenge for sport and recreation clubs and organisations.
The cost of purchasing specialised sporting equipment such as modified wheelchairs, bats/racquets and access to modified playing areas/surfaces is beyond the means of most people.648 For example the cost of specialised equipment and regular repairs posed a significant barrier to entry for most people with disability.649
Integration in sporting and leisure activities is encouraged by Australia, but the means to integrate a person with disability is often not funded. For instance, people with disability from non-English speaking backgrounds may not have the confidence, English proficiency or social skills to join a mainstream activity, and have little means to develop such skills.650
A great deal more attention has been paid to participation in organised sports and physical activity than to the much broader range of leisure and recreation opportunities that include more social, passive and less structured activities and pastimes. Most of the endeavours have focused on the development of sports clubs and organisations, but the failure to properly address the aspirations and needs of people with disability themselves means that much of this work is not of direct benefit to those who need support.651
