By Dr Jen Dyer, Dr. Rachel Sandford and Dr. Angharad Beckett
The Mixed Ability Sport Development Programme (MASPD) aims to promote social inclusion through sport, education and advocacy. The Mixed Ability model is being developed and championed by the not-for-profit organisation, International Mixed Ability Sports (IMAS) who first developed the approach through the context of rugby. Mixed Ability sport encourages social inclusion by integrating players regardless of dis/ability into a mainstream sport setting and emphasises the importance of sustainable provision, self-determination, club membership and opportunities for social interaction. The MASDP can be seen to contribute to a growing body of work on the use of sport/physical activity as vehicles for positive impact through, for example, cultural cohesion, gender equity, education and social inclusion. Moreover, it aligns with the Article 30 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Article, which states that participation in mainstream sport should be a right for all individuals.
The Sport England-funded MASDP allowed IMAS to trial Mixed Ability in rowing, cricket, boxing, tennis, golf, exercise, movement and dance (EMD) and bowls. IMAS also attracted interest from swimming, cycling, wheelchair basketball and KinBall during the Programme. Activities were initially concentrated in the Bradford area but by the second year, IMAS had expanded the footprint to a regional level, including areas in South Yorkshire and the North West of England.
The MASDP was evaluated by researchers from the University of Leeds and Loughborough University between Nov 2016 and Jan 2019. A large amount of data was collected through interviews and workshops as well as active participation and/or participant observation in Mixed Ability sports.
Key findings are that:
Mixed Ability sport has the potential for positive impacts at the individual, club and societal level:
The challenges of promoting Mixed Ability sport highlight dominant societal perceptions of disability:
The research shows that through the peer education and practical sports provision provided by the Mixed Ability model, these dominant societal perceptions are challenged and more inclusive sporting environments are created which benefit everyone involved. Mixed Ability sport provides an innovative route for national governing bodies and policymakers seeking to increase their impact around sport, inclusion and dis/ability.
‘I mean why not? Why can’t we be playing the same sports in a tournament? Blind against sighted people, or people in a wheelchair, or people that haven’t got a disability. Why not?’ Sam Keever, Mixed Ability bowls participant.
For the full research report please click the image below: