Family Sports with Disabled Children: Progress Towards Social Inclusion

This book focuses on “Inclusive Family Sports”, which are specific sporting activities for families with disabled children. The authors explore social and cultural issues surrounding the inclusion of persons with disabilities in sports, and how families can both support and engage in these activities. When sport is defined as all physical activities promoting physical and mental well-being, along with social integration and interaction, it opens the door for everyone in society to participate. Yet, families with disabled children often feel “disconnected” from social life leading to challenges in sport participation. Consequently, these families are rarely seen in public swimming pools, winter sports areas or public sports clubs. In this context family sport programs with disabled children (e.g., weekly family sports activities or family vacations) are an opportunity for individual and social integration/inclusion. The book examines the important contribution these types of projects have made toward social integration/inclusion over the last 30 years in Germany. The authors discuss the findings of a recent study investigating the integration and inclusion of families with disabled children through sport activities, conducted by HAM-Hochschule für angewandtes Management (University of Applied Management) and the Bavarian State Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Affairs, Germany. New projects and initiatives are developing from the results and experiences of previous programs, which continue to gain recognition and support from public institutions, reflecting growing interest in developing comprehensive policy for diversity management.