Empowerment through sports for people with intellectual disabilities

Vključenost v družabno življenje in izbira prostočasnih dejavnosti sta pri ljudeh z intelektualno oviro med najbolj okrnjenimi področji. Z magistrsko nalogo želim poleg pozitivnih učinkov športa na posameznikovo psihofizično zdravje pokazati, kako je lahko športna aktivnost, ki prestopi meje same »aktivnosti« ali celo terapije, tudi sredstvo, ki človeku predstavlja vir moči, ko se poskuša vključiti v družbo in mu veča možnost izbire. V delu se bom osredotočil na to, kaj osebi z intelektualno oviro pomeni biti športnik, kaj mu prinaša udejstvovanje v športu in kakšne so možnosti integriranega športnega treniranja v Sloveniji. Pri ljudeh, ki so redno športno aktivni, je mogoče zaznati večjo mero samozavesti, boljšo samopodobo in več socialne vključenosti v širše okolje. Šport je lahko orodje za večjo integracijo ljudi z intelektualno oviro v vsakdanje življenje, zato ga je treba vedno bolj vključevati v vse programe, ki sodelujejo z ljudmi z intelektualno oviro.Inclusion in social life and the choice of leisure activities are one of the most curtailed areas for people with intellectual disabilities. In addition to the positive effects of sport on an individual’s psychophysical health, this master’s thesis wants to show how sport activity, when it crosses the boundaries of “activity” or even therapy, can also be a source of strength for a person when trying to integrate into society. In this work, I will focus on what it means for a person with an intellectual disability to be an athlete, what the participation in sports means to them, and what are the possibilities of integrated sports training in Slovenia. People who are regularly active in sports can be seen to have a higher level of self-confidence, a better self-image, and more social inclusion in the wider environment. Sport can be a tool for greater integration of people with intellectual disabilities into everyday life, so it is increasingly necessary to include it in all programs that work with people with intellectual disabilities