Earlier this year Power of Sport issued The True Sport Report and Central sport has identified and summarized 5 key themes.
The fifth and final key theme is Impacts of Sport on Children with Disabilities.
- Children and youth with brain-based disabilities, such as ADHD or autism spectrum disorder, should be encouraged to participate in physical activity and sport, as it is associated with better sleep, improved concentration and executive function, and feelings of happiness and mental wellness.
- Participation in sport promotes inclusion and social well-being for children with disabilities.
- In recent studies of youth with disabilities and chronic medical conditions, those who participated in organized sport at least two times per week had higher scores on all health-related fitness measures, with no higher risk of injury or illness than non-participant peers.
- Out-of-school inclusive activity programming, which brings together typically developing children and those with disabilities, has been shown to have positive effects on development, social skills, and psychosocial health.
You can find the full 2022 True Sport Report here.
