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NINE

Sports, Recreation, and Leisure

Recreation has much to offer the disabled person. It can be a vital link to the community. It provides an opportunity for the development of social skills, motor skills, self expression and creativity. It offers fun, satisfaction, success, decision making and community involvement. These are all opportunities from which disabled people have been sheltered and / or excluded."

"This lack of public recognition has serious and far-reaching consequences for the disabled athlete as little or no opportunity is provided in many parts of Canada for these persons to participate in even the most rudimentary training programs. Thus a tremendous human potential remains untapped."

"The importance of recreation and sports in the disabled person's total development must never be underestimated. It has been clearly demonstrated that involvement in recreation and sport encourages a person to set certain goals and work towards such goals; and may result in real successes and accomplishments while attaining the set goals. Improved self-image, increased confidence, and improved social skills are usual benefits derived from one's participation in sport and recreation activities."

93

PROVIDE GREATER RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS AND INFORMATION FOR DISABLED PERSONS

RECOMMENDATION:

That Federal Government Departments and Agencies such as Parks Canada, National Museums of Canada, National Government Office of Tourism, and the National Capital Commission, which provide or promote leisure activities, give high priority to making their services and programs available to disabled persons.

Higher Priority: Disabled persons have little access to the recreational opportunities provided to non-disabled persons by Parks Canada and other Federal Agencies. Parks Canada, in particular, has stated to the Special Committee that the needs of disabled persons are low priority because providing special programs would not be cost-effective. The Members of the Committee do not accept this reasoning. Any facility open to the public, which is funded by the public, should be accessible to disabled persons-unless this is practically impossible. This is a basic civil right and takes priority over any other consideration. Wherever possible, therefore, these Agencies should strive to make their existing programs and services available to disabled persons, and to make special efforts to inform disabled persons about these new recreational opportunities.

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94

INTEGRATE DISABLED PERSONS INTO EXISTING SPORTS ACTIVITIES

RECOMMENDATION:

That steps be taken to encourage the integration of disabled persons into sports governing bodies where appropriate, along the lines recommended by the national symposium on Sport Integration for the Physically Disabled held in September 1979.

Overcome Myth: One of the biggest attitudinal obstacles that disabled persons must overcome is the myth that they cannot participate in physical activities, especially in sports. Yet, many disabled persons are able to enjoy swimming, wrestling, table tennis, basketball and skiing, to name a few examples, when these activities are made accessible to them. Participation with able-bodied persons in sports is an important way in which many disabled persons gain the confidence to live independently in other areas of daily life.

Useful Step: Fitness and Amateur Sport Canada recently held a national symposium on Sport Integration for the Physically Disabled. The symposium drew representatives from the national and provincial sport governing bodies to discuss and initiate policies for integrating disabled persons into existing programs. The Members of the Committee see this action as a very useful first step, which should now become a guide throughout Canada for increasing the participation of disabled persons in as many different sports as possible.

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One of the biggest attitudinal obstacles that disabled persons must overcome is the myth that they cannot participate in physical activities, especially in sports.