Narrowing the Definition of Social Inclusion in Sport for People with Disabilities through a Scoping Review

Abstract

The concept and practice of social inclusion in sport are still undefined, causing confusion both in the field of sport policy and practice. According to the United Nations (UN), a conceptual and analytical work on what constitutes inclusion is needed. Therefore, this study aims to define social inclusion in sport for people with disabilities by reviewing the existing literature. Using a scoping review framework, articles related to a possible definition of social inclusion in sport or to the elements of this definition were reviewed. For the eighteen (18) articles selected, the focus was on 152 statements, which were grouped into 6 main categories, namely: policy (29), fundamental conditions (28), key elements (30), soft skills (20), field gaps (31), and best practices (14). Ten keywords were extracted from each of the six categories using the free online program cortical.io. All 60 keywords were then compared with each other. After deleting the duplicates, 24 keywords remained, which were classified into five major categories: (1) key people, (2) key environments, (3) key ways to use, (4) key benefits, and (5) key barriers, in order to create a descriptive definition of social inclusion in sport for people with disabilities that can contribute to the goals of the UN 2030 Agenda. In addition to the definition, relevant issues were also raised for in-depth discussion and further research.

Listening to Stakeholders’ Voices on Funding Social Inclusion in Sport for People with Disabilities—Proposal for Criteria

“…Unified Sport, which involves young people with and without disabilities playing in mixed teams, has been shown to foster a sense of belonging, create new relationships, promote acceptance by peers, and facilitate friendships beyond the sport arena and also aids in securing employment in mainstream businesses [ 20 , 24 , 39 ], forming a basis for mutual identity among individuals with and without disabilities based on their shared sport experiences. The emotional and social benefits of Unified Sport sustain the participation of non-disabled players [ 40 ] and exemplify a mixed-ability approach that should be embraced more broadly in mainstream sport clubs, where it is currently in its early stages of implementation [ 3 , 6 ]. The disparity in funding for this successful and promising approach prompts a profound reflection on why the least funded strategy appears to be the most successful and promising, as supported by the opinions of coaches, parents, and technicians involved in sport for individuals with intellectual disabilities and neurodevelopmental disorders.…”

“…Possible interference by 'political arithmetic' and 'partisan support' is also mentioned [33]. There is a clear need for a more comprehensive definition of social inclusion in sport for individuals with disabilities, enabling stakeholders to adopt a consistent approach to social inclusion in sport and thereby support all athletes in realizing their full potential, regardless of their abilities [3] as inclusion in mainstream sport is necessary to achieve such an "inclusive society" [6,34]. The literature also highlights a lack of willingness to change, often attributed to ableism within sport clubs [35], negative attitudes towards individuals with disabilities and their parents in mainstream sport [24,26,30], coaches' beliefs that inclusion might disrupt training for non-disabled peers [36], or their superficial attempts to include individuals with disabilities [29].…”

“…Good governance Good governance may refer to the dimensions of inclusivity, fairness, transparency, legitimacy, accountability, direction, and capability. [71] The challenge of adequately funding social inclusion programs in sport is presented not only by the lack of a unified definition of social inclusion in sport [3] but also, according to some experts and decision-makers [72], by the mindset surrounding parasports. These receive a significant portion of funds from foundations primarily intended for the disabled population, not athletes.…”

“…Social inclusion in sport is a modern concept that is gaining ground; despite many attempts and good practices, it is still in its beginning. Based on a review of existing articles, an attempt to define social inclusion in sport was recently developed [3]: Social inclusion in sport for people with disabilities is a key approach that ensures all individuals, regardless of their abilities/disabilities or backgrounds, can actively participate in sporting activities within mainstream sport organizations. Coaches cater to individual needs, promoting mixed-ability activities to provide equal opportunities for athletes and other participants like volunteers.…”

“…Social inclusion in sport is a modern concept that is gaining ground; despite many attempts and good practices, it is still in its beginning. Based on a review of existing articles, an attempt to define social inclusion in sport was recently developed [ 3 ]:…”