Teachers’ Experience of Physical Activity for Students with Disabilities Report

Research has highlighted that people with a disability in Ireland are far less likely to be active than those without a disability with a difference of 28% vs 48% taking part (ISM, 2022). This difference is also apparent within younger demographics, the CSPPA (2022) study shows a substantial difference for children and youths with a disability. The study reported that children with disabilities are less likely to meet physical activity guidelines and engage in community-based physical activity than those without a disability. Active Disability Ireland conducted a consultation with young people with disabilities ( Youth Research Report 2024 published May 2024) which supports the fact that many young people with disabilities face additional barriers to participation.

It is imperative that we reduce this gradient in participation and ensure that there are no inequalities present across populations. For young people with disabilities physical activity within the school setting is a foundational experience and can have a profound impact on participation throughout their lives.

Within the school setting, teachers are responsible for ensuring that all students are included within physical activity, however, the reality for many is that there are barriers which make this difficult. We can see these difficulties reflected in the statistics being reported in the ISM and CSPPA studies as well as our own research. It is imperative that we understand teachers’ experiences so that we can help them to facilitate an inclusive physical activity environment for all of their students

In order to better understand the living experience of teachers in Ireland the research is set forth to address the following objectives:

• To understand teachers’ experiences in delivering physical activity to children and young people with disabilities
• To determine key barriers faced by teachers in delivering physical activity to children and young people with disabilities
• To understand what information teachers need to be confident in delivering physical activity to children and young people with disabilities
• To understand what supports teachers need in delivering physical activity to children and young people with disabilities.

To read the full report please click here: Teacher Research Report 2024

Contact Robert Purcell, Active Disability Ireland Insights Officer for further information. Email: rpurcell@activedisability.ie