Barries to inclusion of students with disabilities in sports: an assessment of special schools in the Amathole District of Eastern Cape, South Africa

According to the recent Statistics South Africa (2007), there are 668 176 children with disability between 6 – 23 years old of which 337 660 are males and 330 516 females in the Amathole District of the Eastern Cape. This number consists of schoolchildren with visual, auditory, physical, mental, multiple and non- specified types of disabilities. However, there are limited research studies on the challenges around opportunities for children to participate in variety of sporting activities within the school settings. The purpose of this study was to provide a more accurate picture of the barriers against inclusion of students with disabilities in sports, among the identified Special Schools in the Amathole district, Eastern Cape. Data collection involved interviews, questionnaire and participant observation methods. Results showed that 87 percent of the students with disabilities participated in one sport or the other with male student participating more (92.2 percent than the female participants (86.7 percent). Overall, the participation rate was 86.7 percent. Further analysis of data revealed that 44 percent female and 41.5 percent male students agreed strongly that sporting activities are beneficial to their health. 7.1prcent of the sample indicated that their disability prevented them from sports participation. The reported main barriers towards sports participation include; lack of trained personnel; lack of adequate funding; lack of cooperation from parents and guardians and inadequate facilities and equipment. Although students with disabilities were using the limited resources at their disposal to participate in sports, they need support to sustain their efforts