Assessing access and inclusion of children with disabilities in leisure activities and sports
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v77.118630Keywords:
Accessibility, children with disabilities, inclusive sport, participationAbstract
Introduction: All children, including those with impairments, have a universal right to physical activity, which is crucial to their social, and physical development.
Objective: This study was to evaluate the degree of involvement, current opportunities, and primary obstacles encountered by children with disabilities in sports and leisure activities in Albanian schools and sports teams, as well as to examine the opinions of important stakeholders involved in this process.
Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional research design was used for the investigation to gather data from 176 participants (parents, physical education instructors, and sports coaches) in several Albanian cities. The SPSS software and Cronbach's Alpha coefficient was then used to analyze the data.
Results: The findings demonstrated that while most children with disabilities have a strong interest in physical exercise and adaptive sports, their actual involvement is still quite low and mostly concentrated on school physical education. The absence of specialized sports programs, inadequate sports facilities, and restricted access to extracurricular activities were the primary obstacles found. The analysis of the results reveals a substantial discrepancy between children's desire and interest and the real conditions provided by Albanian educational and athletic institutions, particularly when compared to nations in the EU.
Conclusions: In order to increase the actual and long-term participation of children with disabilities in sports and recreational activities, the study emphasizes the necessity of a comprehensive and coordinated approach that includes investments in accessible infrastructure, the creation of adaptive sports programs, and continuous professional support for teachers and coaches.
References
Alam, N., Bhattacharjee, A., & Das, A. (2024). Adaptive and inclusive physical education for students with special needs. International Journal of Social Impact, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.25215/2455/0901002
Assembly of the Republic of Albania. (2012). Law No. 69/2012 on the pre-university education system in the Republic of Albania (Article 5 – Principle of inclusiveness; Article 63 – Education of stu-dents with disabilities). https://qbz.gov.al/eli/ligj/2012/06/21/69
Assembly of the Republic of Albania. (2017). Law No. 79/2017 on sport (Article 3 – Fundamental prin-ciples; Article 4 – State policies in sport). https://qbz.gov.al/eli/ligj/2017/10/26/79
Chang, F.-H., Coster, W. J., & Helfrich, C. A. (2013). Community participation measures for people with disabilities: A systematic review of content from an International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health perspective. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 94(4), 771–781. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2012.11.025
Chien, C.-W., Rodger, S., Copley, J., & Skorka, K. (2014). Comparative content review of children’s partic-ipation measures using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health–Children and Youth. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 95(1), 141–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2013.08.296
Clutterbuck, G. L., Wen, E., & Petroccitto, S. (2025). Assessment of sport and physical recreation partic-ipation for children and youth with disabilities: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(4), 557. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040557
Council of Europe. (2022). Revised European Sports Charter and inclusive sport policies. Council of Europe Publishing. https://rm.coe.int/revised-european-sports-charter-web-a6/1680a7534b
Council of Europe & EU Joint Project. (2025). Sport For All: Promoting inclusion and combating dis-crimination against persons with disabilities. https://pjp-eu.coe.int/en/web/sport-for-all/about-sport-for-all
Erasmus+. (n.d.). Sport day for every child (Action: Sport – Small collaborative partnerships). European Commission.https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/project-result-content/813a0f4a-0529-469c-b281-878a166df960/Sport_Day_For_Every_Child_Survey_Report.pdf
European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education. (2020). Inclusive education and physical activity in Europe (Policy report). https://easpd.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Publications/easpd_barometer_report_2020_final.pdf
European Commission. (2018). Sport and social inclusion in the EU. Publications Office of the Europe-an Union. https://sport.ec.europa.eu/policies/sport-and-society/social-inclusion
European Commission. (2018, December). Mapping on access to sport for people with disabilities: A report to the European Commission. Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport, and Cul-ture. https://sport.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/mapping_access_to_sport_for_people_with_disabiliites_final.pdf
European Commission. (2022). Study on inclusive sport policies and infrastructure in Europe. Publica-tions Office of the European Union. https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/7d4b0f0a-5e3a-11ed-92ed-01aa75ed71a1
European Commission & Council of Europe. (2024). All In Plus – Promoting greater gender equality and inclusion in sport in the Western Balkans. Western Balkans Info Hub. https://westernbalkans-infohub.eu/initiatives/all-in-plus-promoting-greater-gender-equality-in-sport/
Goodwin, D. L., & Watkinson, E. J. (2000). Inclusive physical education from the perspective of students with physical disabilities. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 17(2), 144–160. https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.17.2.144
Haegele, J. A., & Sutherland, S. (2015). Perspectives of students with disabilities toward physical educa-tion: A qualitative inquiry review. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 32(4), 311–330. https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2015.1050118
Isidoro-Cabañas, E., Soto-Rodríguez, F. J., Morales-Rodríguez, F. M., & Pérez-Mármol, J. M. (2023b). Benefits of adaptive sport on physical and mental quality of life in people with physical disabili-ties: A meta-analysis. Healthcare, 11(18), 2480. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11182480
Jaarsma, E. A., Dijkstra, P. U., Geertzen, J. H. B., & Dekker, R. (2014). Barriers to and facilitators of sports participation for people with physical disabilities: A systematic review. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 24(6), 741–750. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12218
Lankhorst, K., Oerbekke, M., van den Berg-Emons, R., Takken, T., & de Groot, J. F. (2020). Instruments measuring physical activity in individuals who use a wheelchair: A systematic review of meas-urement properties. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 101(3), 535–552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2019.09.006
Martin Ginis, K. A., van der Ploeg, H. P., Foster, C., Lai, B., McBride, C. B., Ng, K., Pratt, M., Shirazipour, C. H., Smith, B., Vásquez, P. M., & Heath, G. W. (2021). Participation of people living with disabili-ties in physical activity: A global perspective. The Lancet, 398(10298), 443–455. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01164-8
Martins, J. C., Aguiar, L. T., Nadeau, S., Scianni, A. A., Teixeira-Salmela, L. F., & Faria, C. D. C. D. M. (2019). Measurement properties of self-report physical activity assessment tools for patients with stroke: A systematic review. Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy, 23(6), 476–490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjpt.2019.02.004
Morris, C., Kurinczuk, J. J., & Fitzpatrick, R. (2005). Child- or family-assessed measures of activity per-formance and participation for children with cerebral palsy: A structured review. Child: Care, Health and Development, 31(4), 397–407. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2005.00552.x
Murphy, N., & Carbone, P. S. (2008). Promoting the participation of children with disabilities in sports, recreation, and physical activities. Pediatrics, 121(5), 1057–1061. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2008-0566
Pagani, L. S., Harbec, M. J., Fortin, G., & Barnett, T. A. (2020). Childhood exercise as medicine: Extracur-ricular sport diminishes subsequent ADHD symptoms. Preventive Medicine, 141, 106256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106256
Publications Office of the European Union. (2018). Mapping on access to sport for people with disabili-ties. https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/09e457a0-04d7-11e9-adde-01aa75ed71a1
Rimmer, J. H., & Alexandre, C. M. (2012). Physical activity for people with disabilities. The Lancet, 380(9838), 193–195. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61028-9
Sakzewski, L., Boyd, R., & Ziviani, J. (2007). Clinimetric properties of participation measures for 5- to 13-year-old children with cerebral palsy: A systematic review. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 49(4), 232–240. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8749.2007.00275.x
Save the Children & UEFA Foundation. (2025). Promoting inclusive education through accessible sports in Kosovo. UEFA Foundation. https://uefafoundation.org/action/promoting-inclusive-education-through-accessible-sports/
Seekins, T., Shunkamolah, W., Bertsche, M., Cowart, C., Summers, J., Reichard, A., & White, G. (2012). A systematic scoping review of measures of participation in disability and rehabilitation research: A preliminary report of findings. Disability and Health Journal, 5(3), 224–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2012.01.001
Setyaedhi, H. S. (2024). Comparative test of Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient, KR-20, KR-21, and split-half method. Journal of Education Research and Evaluation, 8(1), 47–57. https://doi.org/10.23887/jere.v8i1.68164
Shields, N., & Synnot, A. (2016). Perceived barriers and facilitators to participation in physical activity for children with disability: A qualitative study. BMC Pediatrics, 16(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-016-0544-7
Ströhle, A. (2019). Sports psychiatry: Mental health and mental disorders in athletes and exercise treatment of mental disorders. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 269(5), 485–498. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-018-0891-5
Townsend, R. C., Huntley, T. D., Cushion, C. J., & Culver, D. (2021). Infusing disability into coach educa-tion and development: A critical review and agenda for change. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 27(3), 247–260. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2021.1873932
Ulset, V. S., Oppici, L., Hamre, K., Rudd, J. R., Stornæs, A. V., Haraldsen, H. M., & Säfvenbom, R. (2025). Inclusion in motion: Promoting equitable physical activity and health in childhood and adoles-cence. Children, 12(7), 942. https://doi.org/10.3390/children12070942
Wilhelmsen, T., & Sørensen, M. (2016). Inclusion of children with disabilities in physical education: A systematic review of literature from 2009 to 2015. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 33(4), 358–377. https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.2016-0017
Wilson, A., Longo, V., Ma, J., & Bulut, S. (2024). Perceived barriers and facilitators to physical activity among individuals with disabilities: A qualitative study. International Journal of Sport Studies for Health, 7(3), 10–17. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.intjssh.7.3.2
World Health Organization (WHO). (2022). Global report on health equity for persons with disabilities. WHO Press. file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/9789240063600-eng.pdf
Ziviani, J., Desha, L., Feeney, R., & Boyd, R. (2010). Measures of participation outcomes and environ-mental considerations for children with acquired brain injury: A systematic review. Brain Im-pairment, 11(2), 93–112. https://doi.org/10.1375/brim.11.2.93
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Elton Spahiu, Rovena Elmazi, Anduela Lile, Entela Kushta, Surven Metolli, Ferdinand Mara
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and ensure the magazine the right to be the first publication of the work as licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of authorship of the work and the initial publication in this magazine.
- Authors can establish separate additional agreements for non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in the journal (eg, to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Is allowed and authors are encouraged to disseminate their work electronically (eg, in institutional repositories or on their own website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as to a subpoena more Early and more of published work (See The Effect of Open Access) (in English).
This journal provides immediate open access to its content (BOAI, http://legacy.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/boaifaq.htm#openaccess) on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. The authors may download the papers from the journal website, or will be provided with the PDF version of the article via e-mail.
