Limitations of Disabled People Participating in Sports

The ability to participate in sports has evolved over the years to a point where people with disabilities can be members of sporting events and teams. Though each person must work with and around their personal disability and potential limitations, being a part of sports is feasible for those with a disability. Times and conditions do exist where having a disability will limit one's ability to completely participate in events and activities.

  1. Venue Access

    • Disabled people who are participating in a sport held in a venue setting such as a football stadium may potentially have problems accessing the field. Though the majority of national and large stadiums are ADA compliant and provide wheelchair or access ramps, smaller venues may make getting to the sporting area challenging for some. Though not having handicap access is an ADA violation, some small private venues for sports, such as those hosted on private property, may not have such measures in place. Due to the inability of some to even enter the playing area, this may limit a disabled persons ability to participate.

    Parking

    • Parking for disabled people is always challenging, especially when only a limited number of parking spaces are made available. This situation becomes more of an issue when a disabled person is trying to find parking spot close to where a sporting event is being held and sports equipment needs to be carried in to the location. For example, not enough disabled parking spaces outside of a hockey arena would make carrying all hockey equipment inside even more challenging. This could cause a limitation on participation if the inability to even get all items in to the venue poses too much of an issue or concern.

    Access to Participation

    • Not all general sports events, teams or competitions allow those with physical limitations or disabilities the right to participate. This limits the events a person with a disability can participate in. For example, sports where tryouts are used to select members of a team may not allow for concessions to be made for a person with a disability as the team itself is designed to only accept the strongest and most adept players of the sport to participate. This is most common in competitive sports such as baseball, basketball and football.

    Paralympics

    • One way to avoid limitations imposed on those with either physical or mental disabilities is to participate in events and sports which have teams and groups devoted to working with and around disabilities. One such option are the Paralympic games. The Paralympics is an internationally sanctioned sporting event which is hosted throughout the U.S. and abroad. Participants are divided in to groups based both on sport and ability. This form of competition allows for disabled people to work around disabilities and compete on a more level playing field, as the teams and competitions are organized according to level of ability.