Disability, Disorder and Adaptive Sports

Disability and Disorder

• Disability, as defined by the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016, includes long-term impairments (physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory) that hinder societal participation.
• Disorders are primarily mental disabilities affecting learning and development.
• The preferred terms are "Person with disability" or "Divyang Jan," replacing "disabled."
• "Children With Special Needs" (CWSN) is the term used to refer to children with disabilities.

Organizations Promoting Adaptive Sports

• Special Olympics is the world's largest organization for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities, and its logo is important to recognize.
• Special Olympics competitions occur daily at local, national, state, and international levels.
• The Special Olympic World Games, a major event, occurs every two years, alternating between summer and winter games.
• The first Special Olympics World Games were held on July 20, 1968, in Chicago, USA.
• Paralympics are games for people with disabilities, with a distinct logo.
• The Paralympic Games were first organized in 1960.
• The International Paralympic Committee (IPC), headquartered in Bonn, Germany, organizes the Paralympic Games.
• "Spirit in Motion" is the Paralympic motto.
• India started participating in the Paralympic Games in 1968.
• India's best performance was at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, where they secured 5 gold medals and a total of 19 medals.
• The next Paralympic Games will be held in Paris, France, in 2024.
• Deaflympics are games for individuals with hearing impairments, and have a unique logo.
• The Deaflympics were formerly known as the International Games for the Deaf.
• Flags and flashlights are used instead of starting guns and whistles.
• The first Deaflympics were held in Paris in 1924.
• Cochlear implants are not allowed in Deaflympics
• "Equality through Sports" is the Deaflympics motto.
• To participate, individuals must have a hearing loss of at least 55 decibels in their better ear.
• Instead of auditory signals, such as guns, visual cues are used.

Classification versus Divisioning

• Classification: Grouping athletes based on their characteristics and level of disability.
• Athletes are separated into categories like blind, deaf, or those with limb differences, which ensures fair competition.
• Divisioning: Classifying athletes based on age, gender, and ability.
• Subgroups are classified by age (e.g., under 19), or gender to ensure fairness.

Inclusion in Sports

• Inclusion integrates disabled individuals into society, developing their social and motor skills.
• Parents, teachers, students, and school principals are crucial for implementing inclusion.
• School principals guide teachers and students in positively interacting with disabled individuals.
• School counselors advise disabled individuals about career options.
• Physical education teachers keep children physically active and promote social skills among CWSN.
• Speech therapists help individuals with speech difficulties.
• Special education teachers provide inclusive classrooms for disabled individuals to grow and interact with others.

Advantages of Including CWSN in Physical Activities

• Sportsmanship is developed.
• Improves functional capacity for daily life.
• Reduces depression.
• Enhances social interaction.
• Improves emotional health.
• Improves thinking, reasoning, and memory.
• Increases fitness levels.
• Resolves secondary health issues.
• Enhances self-esteem.
• Promotes regularity and discipline.

Strategies for Accessible Physical Education

• Regular medical checkups should be conducted to determine disability levels, aiding classification and divisioning.
• Activities should align with individual interests to boost participation.
• Tailored instructional strategies should be implemented to meet specific needs.
• Rules should be modified to accommodate disabilities, such as in blind cricket.
• Specific, supportive environments should be provided, and social activity encouraged.

An overview of disability and disorders according to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016. This article details organizations that promote adaptive sports, like the Special Olympics and Paralympics. Includes information such as the definition of 'Divyang Jan'.