Wheelchair rugby and basketball players are aggressive, conditioned, and determined, just like the players without disabilities. But unlike athletes without disabilities, athletes with disabilities are not as likely to be employed and economically independent. A study from the University of Houston, however, finds that playing an adaptive sport can have a dramatic effect on athletes with disabilities and their potential for employment.
“Our analysis shows that playing an additional year of adaptive sport is associated with an approximately 4 percent increase in likelihood of employment every year for 10 years before the benefits flatten out,” said Michael Cottingham, PhD, associate professor and the study’s principal investigator. “Resources to support disability sport are lacking, though, in part because of the perceived lack of economic return of investing in these programs.”
The employment rate for individuals with disabilities is about 29 percent compared to a national employment rate of 95.4 percent. If the disability forces the individual into a wheelchair, the percentage drops to 18 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation.
Cottingham noted that previous research found disability sport provides a strong social support system, increased self-confidence, and a peer-education system, which helps athletes identify resources to gain employment and mentorship.
“These factors are probably directly and indirectly impacting employment,” he said, calling disability sport a catalyst.
“The number of years since disability onset was positively associated with employment, and the more severe the injury the less likely the individual maintained employment,” Cottingham said. “The data also show this negative relationship between injury severity and employment becomes less significant the longer they played sports. Over time, the fitness and health benefits are probably mitigating the disadvantage of having a more severe impairment.”
The study was published in Disability and Rehabilitation.
To locate adaptive sports programs, visit www.amplitude-media.com/Resources/Links.
This article was adapted from information provided by the University of Houston.