Disabled people feel left out of post-pandemic sporting recovery, report says

Disabled people feel forgotten in the sporting recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic and more effort is needed to tackle barriers relating to health, according to a report by national charity Activity Alliance.

The latest Annual Disability and Activity Survey was published on Wednesday and highlights the necessity of urgent attention to tackle growing inequalities.

More than 1,800 disabled and non-disabled respondents aged above 16 took part in the research from October to December 2021.

Key findings of the survey found that fewer than three in 10 disabled people feel encouraged to return to physical activity after the pandemic, with the support needed to be active now less available.

In contrast to non-disabled people now being more likely to say they can be as active as they want, that figure fell to just four in 10 from disabled respondents – with fewer than half (47 per cent) thinking that physical activity and exercise is for ‘someone like me’.

Despite eight in 10 wanting to be more active, the research found disabled people are being left out in the return to activity and are feeling less encouraged to be active.

Disabled people are also less likely than last year to feel activity leaders meet their needs and included them – with 78 per cent saying their impairment or condition stops them being active, often related to low awareness of suitable activities and fears about safety and risk.

It was also found there is a strong feeling that the workforce, particularly in gyms and sports or leisure centres, at many levels does not understand disability and spaces still are not fully accessible.

Key recommendations

Activity Alliance has outlined four key recommendations for urgent change to achieve greater fairness in