The Value of Incorporating Inclusive Sports in Schools: An Exploration of Unified Sport Experiences

in Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly

Click name to view affiliation

Roxy Helliker O’Rourke Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, Mental Health and Physical Activity Research Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

Search for other papers by Roxy Helliker O’Rourke in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7568-7554
,
Krystn Orr Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, Mental Health and Physical Activity Research Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

Search for other papers by Krystn Orr in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9938-9655
,
Rebecca Renwick Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

Search for other papers by Rebecca Renwick in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9583-0768
,
F. Virginia Wright Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bloorview Research Institute, East York, ON, Canada
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

Search for other papers by F. Virginia Wright in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9713-4536
,
James Noronha Special Olympics Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada

Search for other papers by James Noronha in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Kirsten Bobbie Special Olympics Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada

Search for other papers by Kirsten Bobbie in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
, and
Kelly P. Arbour-Nicitopoulos Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, Mental Health and Physical Activity Research Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bloorview Research Institute, East York, ON, Canada

Search for other papers by Kelly P. Arbour-Nicitopoulos in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1011-3669 *
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.2021-0188
Keywords:
intellectual disability; adolescence; school sports; qualitative
First Published Online:
03 Mar 2023
In Print:
Volume 40: Issue 4
Page Range:
629–648
Restricted access

School sports programs intentionally created for students with and without disabilities may increase social participation of students with intellectual disabilities (IDs). Special Olympics Unified Sports is one program where students with and without ID participate on one team. Guided by a critical realist paradigm, this study explored the perceptions of students with and without ID and coaches of in-school Unified Sports. Interviews were conducted with 21 youths (12 with ID) and 14 coaches. Thematic analysis resulted in four developed themes (identified is outdated language): Inclusion—Is it a “we” or a “they?” Roles and Responsibilities, Educational Context for Inclusion, and Buy-In. Findings suggest students with and without ID and coaches value the inclusive nature of Unified Sports. Future research should explore training for coaches on inclusive practices (e.g., language), and optimal methods for consistent training (e.g., use of training manuals) to foster the philosophy of inclusion within school sports.

  • Collapse
  • Expand

Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly

Cover Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly

  • Anderson, D. (2009). Adolescent girls’ involvement in disability sport: Implications for identity development. Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 33(4), 427–449. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193723509350608

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Arbour-Nicitopoulos, K.P., Bruno, N., Orr, K., O’Rourke, R., Wright, V., Renwick, R., Bobbie, K., & Noronha, J. (2021). Quality of participation experiences in Special Olympics sports programs. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 39(1), 17–36. https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.2021-0033

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Bergin, M., Wells, J.S., & Owen, S. (2008). Critical realism: A philosophical framework for the study of gender and mental health. Nursing Philosophy, 9(3), 169–179. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-769X.2008.00358.x

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Braun, V., Clarke, V., & Weate, P. (2016). Using thematic analysis in sport and exercise research. In B. Smith & A.C. Sparkes (Eds.), Routledge handbook of qualitative research in sport and exercise (pp. 213–227). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315762012.ch15

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Caron, J.G., Martin Ginis, K.A., Rocchi, M., & Sweet, S.N. (2019). Development of the Measure of Experiential Aspects of Participation for people with physical disabilities. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 100(1), 67–77.e2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2018.08.183

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Castagno, K.S. (2001). Special Olympics Unified Sports: Changes in male athletes during a basketball season. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 18(2), 193–206. https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.18.2.193

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Costa, A.L., & Kallick, B. (1993). Through the lens of a critical friend. Educational Leadership, 51, 49–49.

  • Danermark, B. (2002). Interdisciplinary research and critical realism the example of disability research. Alethia, 5(1), 56–64. https://doi.org/10.1558/aleth.v5i1.56

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • DePauw, K.P., & Doll-Tepper, G. (2000). Toward progressive inclusion and acceptance: Myth or reality? The inclusion debate and bandwagon discourse. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 17(2), 135–143. https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.17.2.135

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Dixon, K., Braye, S., & Gibbons, T. (2022). Still outsiders: The inclusion of disabled children and young people in physical education in England. Disability & Society, 37(10), 1549–1567. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2021.1907551

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Forlin, C., & Chambers, D. (2011). Teacher preparation for inclusive education: Increasing knowledge but raising concerns. Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 39(1), 17–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/1359866X.2010.540850

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Goodwin, D.L., & Watkinson, E.J. (2000). Inclusive physical education from the perspective of students with physical disabilities. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 17(2), 144–160. https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.17.2.144

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Gorbunova, N.V., & Kalimullin, A.M. (2017). Simulation of the process of training the future primary school teachers for organizing extracurricular activities. Ilkogretim Online, 16(4), 1860–1872. https://doi.org/10.17051/ilkonline.2017.348973

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Haegele, J.A. (2019). Inclusion illusion: Questioning the inclusiveness of integrated physical education: 2019 national association for Kinesiology in higher education Hally Beth Poindexter young scholar address. Quest, 71(4), 387–397. https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2019.1602547

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Haegele, J.A., Hodge, S.R., Zhu, X., Holland, S.K., & Wilson, W.J. (2019). Understanding the inclusiveness of integrated physical education from the perspectives of adults with visual impairments. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 37(2), 141–159. https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.2019-0094

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Jensen, S.Q. (2011). Othering, identity formation and agency. Qualitative Studies, 2(2), 63–78. https://doi.org/10.7146/qs.v2i2.5510

  • Khotimah, K., & Ashadi, K. (2020, January). An introductory book for coaching athletes with a disability. Proceedings of the International Conference on Research and Academic Community Services (ICRACOS 2019). Atlantis Press.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Killam, L. (2013). Research terminology simplified: Paradigms, axiology, ontology, epistemology and methodology. Laura Killam.

  • Knight, B.A. (1999). Towards inclusion of students with special educational needs in the regular classroom. Support for Learning, 14(1), 3–7. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9604.00091

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Lieberman, L.J., & Houston-Wilson, C. (2009). Strategies for inclusion: A handbook for physical educators. Human Kinetics.

  • Matsunaga, K. (2019). Inclusion through sport: A case study of coaches’ experiences of Special Olympics Unified Sports [Doctoral dissertation]. University of La Verne.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • McConkey, R., Dowling, S., Hassan, D., & Menke, S. (2013). Promoting social inclusion through unified sports for youth with intellectual disabilities: A five‐nation study. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 57(10), 923–935. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2012.01587.x

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Nicholson, M.Y. (2003). Teacher perceptions of extracurricular activities participation among students with mild/moderate disabilities. The University of Alabama.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Odom, S.L. (2000). Preschool inclusion: What we know and where we go from here. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 20(1), 20–27. https://doi.org/10.1177/027112140002000104

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Orr, K., Wright, F.V., Grassmann, V., McPherson, A.C., Faulkner, G.E., & Arbour-Nicitopoulos, K.P. (2021). Children and youth with impairments in social skills and cognition in out-of-school time inclusive physical activity programs: A scoping review. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 67(2), 79–93. https://doi.org/10.1080/20473869.2019.1603731

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Orsmond, G.I., Shattuck, P.T., Cooper, B.P., Sterzing, P.R., & Anderson, K.A. (2013). Social participation among young adults with an autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43(11), 2710–2719. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-013-1833-8

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Özer, D., Baran, F., Aktop, A., Nalbant, S., Ağlamış, E., & Hutzler, Y. (2012). Effects of a Special Olympics Unified Sports soccer program on psycho-social attributes of youth with and without intellectual disability. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 33(1), 229–239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2011.09.011

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Patomäki, H., & Wight, C. (2000). After postpositivism? The promises of critical realism. International Studies Quarterly, 44(2), 213–237.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Peers, D., Spencer-Cavaliere, N., & Eales, L. (2014). Say what you mean: Rethinking disability language in Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 31(3), 265–282. https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.2013-0091

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Powis, B. (2020). Embodiment, identity and disability sport: An ethnography of elite visually impaired athletes. Routledge.

  • Qi, J., & Ha, A.S. (2012). Inclusion in physical education: A review of literature. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 59(3), 257–281. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2012.697737

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Rekaa, H., Hanisch, H., & Ytterhus, B. (2019). Inclusion in physical education: Teacher attitudes and student experiences. A systematic review. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 66(1), 36–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2018.1435852

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Renwick, R., DuBois, D., Cowen, J., Cameron, D., Fudge Schormans, A., & Rose, N. (2019). Voices of youths on engagement in community life: A theoretical framework of belonging. Disability & Society, 34(6), 945–971. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2019.1583551

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Shaw, A. (2017). Inclusion: The role of special and mainstream schools. British Journal of Special Education, 44(3), 292–312. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8578.12181

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Special Olympics. (2018). Unified sports. https://www.specialolympics.org/our-work/sports/unified-sports

  • Special Olympics. (2022). Special Olympics unified champion schools. https://special olympics.org/our-work/unified-champion-schools

  • Spencer, N.L., Peers, D., & Eales, L. (2020). Disability language in adapted physical education: What is the story? In J. Haegele, S. Hodge, & D. Shapiro (Eds.), Routledge handbook of adapted physical education (pp. 131–144). Routledge.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Townsend, M., & Hassall, J. (2007). Mainstream students’ attitudes to possible inclusion in Unified Sports with students who have an intellectual disability. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 20(3), 265–273. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-3148.2006.00329.x

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Turnnidge, J., Côté, J., Hollenstein, T., & Deakin, J. (2014). A direct observation of the dynamic content and structure of coach-athlete interactions in a model sport program. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 26(2), 225–240. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2013.821637

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 1484 1484 189
Full Text Views 511 511 152
PDF Downloads 315 315 129