Cultural, sports, and leisure activities

Cultural, sports and leisure (CSL) activities are very important for achieving the inclusion and full participation of people with disabilities in all communities around the world. CSL can also include sports and adapted physical activities which are non-competitive and which promote movement and well-being.

Of course activities will vary from one context to another, but in all cases, CSL can greatly facilitate social cohesion within communities. When people with disabilities are able to participate fully in CSL activities this can greatly improve self-confidence, a sense of belonging and empowerment, and physical and psychological well-being. Inclusive CSL also benefits society at large through the unique expression of disability arts and culture such as street theatre, wheelchair dancing, poetry and short stories about disability. Disability arts and culture activities often not only express the history of the oppression of people with disabilities but also offer suggestions on how society can move forward.

The participation and inclusion of people with disabilities in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport is supported by Article 30 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

This key list presents tools that promote the inclusion and expression of people with disabilities through CSL activities, and highlights specific sports and adapted physical activities which are popular in many parts of the world. We welcome your suggestions: please send comments or suggested additions to sourceassistant@hi-uk.org.

Selected resources

Fun inclusive : sports and games as means of rehabilitation, interaction and integration for children and young people with disabilities

IKELBERG, Jenny
et al
2003

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This handbook looks at the activities used in the GTZ (German Agency for Technical Co-operation) pilot project called "Rehabilitation through sports activities for children and young people in war-affected countries". The project aimed to strengthen disabled children both physically and mentally by promoting their rehabilitation, social integration and capacity for self help. The handbook provides basic guidelines for the implementation of sports and games as a means of rehabilitation and integration, building on the experiences from workshops in Angola and Cambodia, which tested 12 games. It includes an evaluation sheet that can be adapted and used

Harnessing the power of sport for development and peace : recommendations to governments

INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF SPORT AND DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS (INSDC)
2008

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This report presents evidence of the effectiveness of sport for development and peace through promoting the adoption of policy recommendations to governments for the integration of sport and physical activity into their domestic and international development strategies and programs. It provides comprehensive policy recommendations to national governments and represents the culmination of a four-year initiative. Each thematic chapters presents the context, evidence, and related recommendations. Detailed appendices are also provided

Manual for the professional in adapted physical activity

PEYNOT, Lucile
CHANTEREAULT, Thomas
BOUZID, Ezzedine
June 2011

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The focus of this manual is to increase participation of people with disabilities in physical activities and sport. Detailed adapted physical activities are provided with practical guides, group sport guides and assessment tools in order to promote a more inclusive society and enable educators to enrich their creativity and ideas for mentoring any person interested in participating in, advancing through and gaining enjoyment from the practice of a physical activity This guide to useful to all actors such as physical education and sports teachers in all types of schools, sports club coaches, recreational centre educators and facilitators, and even workers in rehabilitation centres or medical and social services centres

Moving forward toolkit : a guide for practitioners in the field of sport for youth in emergencies

CARE
Mercy Corps
Schwery Consulting

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This toolkit aims to help young people to recover from the traumatic effects of emergencies by providing practical tools that support sport and play programming to promote healthy physical, social, emotional and cognitive development. It offers recommendations and guidelines for planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating sport and play programs in post-emergency settings
Note: a zip folder is provided for the toolkit templates

Sport and play for all : a manual for including children and youth with disabilities

HARKNETT, Steve
2013

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"This training manual 'Sport and Play for All' provides tips, guidance and advice on disability and inclusion, with the primary aim of enhancing users’ knowledge and practice on inclusion. It brings together many training materials used during the Sports for All Project in Sri Lanka, including materials on disability, social inclusion and models of inclusive sport. It features many games and sports which have been field tested and adapted to enable children with disabilities to participate"

Sport in the United Nations convention on the rights of persons with disabilities

INTERNATIONAL DISABILITY IN SPORT WORKING GROUP (IDISWG)
2007

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The aim of this publication is to protect and advance the human rights of disabled people with a specific emphasis on equal participation in sport. In accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, this document examines how international development agencies and sports organisations can effectively promote the advancement, support research and monitoring of the involvement of disabled people in sport. This resource would be useful for anyone with an interest in community participation and disability and development

Sri Lanka’s first inclusive sports project through Handicap International

HANDICAP INTERNATIONAL SRI LANKA
May 2013

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This video presents a compilation of many events conducted over the course of two years of Handicap International Sri Lanka's "Sport for All" project with short video clips of the different activities and some commentary from the project manager and staff members on sporting activities. It highlights the achievements of the project, level of participation of children/youth with and without disabilities, and the interest generated both at a local and national level

The revised UNESCO charter of physical education, physical activity and sport

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION (UNESCO)
November 2015

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"The International Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport  is a rights-based reference that orients and supports policy- and decision-making in sport. Based on the universal spirit of the original Charter, and integrating the significant evolutions in the field of sport since 1978, the revised Charter introduces universal principles such as gender equality, non-discrimination and social inclusion in and through sport. It also highlights the benefits of physical activity, the sustainability of sport, the inclusion of persons with disabilities and the protection of children"

TOP sportability

YOUTH SPORT TRUST

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TOP Sportsability is a free online resource for schools and offers practical advice to teachers, learning support staff, and other sports practitioners. It consists of video clips and downloadable content showing ideas and strategies around the inclusion of young disabled people in physical activity
Note: Registration is required. Type 'YSTINCLUSION' into the 'Promo' box on the programme's website http://www.topsportsability.com which allows the user to register and create a personal login

"We like the thinking" : theatre for development training and coaching

OPDEBEEECK, Luc
MATTHIJSSEN, Ronald
December 2004

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This evaluation report presents the method for theatre development training and coaching as demonstrated in the Village Development Programme in the Savannakhet Province. The report examines the programme and presents lessons learned and recommendations about its application Village
Development Programme Evaluation
Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR
9 August - 8 September 2004

Ben ni walen : let’s agree and take action|Mobilizing for human rights using participatory theatre

SGANGA, Cristina
VISSER, Teun
2006

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"This Guide is a basic introduction to using participatory methods for exploring human rights issues with people in rural communities to encourage human rights organisations to adopt a long-term approach to raising human rights awareness Section I presents the background to the writing of the Guide and its context. It explains the approach proposed to mobilise rural communities, and it introduces the different components of participatory research and participatory theatre methodology. Section II contains information on the range of participatory theatre methods, and provides illustrative examples of how to use them to explore human rights issues with rural communities. Background information on the specific human rights issues used as examples is also included. The guide contains basic guidelines and suggestions rather than giving step-by-step directions on how to develop programmes, and users are encouraged to adapt the methods and adjust any part of the Guide to suit their own circumstances. This guide is useful for Human right organisations, theatre directors and group, and community development organisations"

Community-based rehabilitation : CBR Guidelines|Social component

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
et al
2010

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This component of the CBR Guidelines focuses on social component. It describes "the role of the CBR is to work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the full participation of people with disabilities in the social life of their families and communities. CBR programmes can provide support and assistance to people with disabilities to enable them to access social opportunities, and can challenge stigma and discrimination to bring about positive social change." The guideline outlines key concepts, and then presents the core concepts, examples and areas of suggested activities in each of the following five elements: Personal Assistance; Relationships, marriage and family; Culture and arts; Recreation, leisure and sport; Justice. This guideline is useful for anyone interested in social component of CBR

Disability culture : assimilation or inclusion? [Chapter 22]

BARNES, Colin
MERCER, Geoff
2001

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This chapter reviews the analysis of culture and its relationship to society, the economy, and politics, and outlines the representation of disability in mainstream culture. It then explores the generation of disability cultures and examines the development of the disability arts movement and its implications for disability culture. These issues are illustrated with examples from both U.K. and U.S. cultures
Chapter 22 in "Handbook of disability studies"

Laugh, run, and move to develop together : games with a psychosocial aim

MEUWLY, Michèle
HEINIGER, Jean-Pierre
2007

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This manual was created following a project initiated by Terre des Hommes called "Movement, Games and Sport for children’s psychosocial development". The manual, a compilation of twenty games, provides a play tool which integrates the psychosocial approach and uses the phases of learning by experience

Lights...camera...attitude! : introducing disability arts and culture

ABBAS, Jihan
et al
April 2004

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This report "addresses the definition and scope of cultural activity by disabled artists, scholars and activists through a range of media (print, video/film, performance and other) in North America and internationally...It makes explicit the implications of cultural activities for different sectors of life in Ontario but also for the global movement of disabled people towards full inclusion"

Music therapy and leisure for persons with disabilities

BARKSDALE, Alicia L
2003

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This book explores the use of music therapy in school and community settings to enhance the development of independent leisure skills with a variety of client populations, including children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly with mental health needs, developmental and learning disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease and other aging-related conditions, substance abuse problems, brain injuries, and physical disabilities

Playgrounds for all children [Chapter 46]

WERNER, David
2009

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This chapter presents information about how to involve local people in building low-cost rehabilitation playgrounds that should be built for use by all children, both disabled and non-disabled. Examples of playgrounds and equipment are provided
Chapter 46 of "Disabled Village Children" by David Warner

Popular theater [Chapter 48]

WERNER, David
2009

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This chapter presents information about how community theater can be used to raise awareness about specific needs of disabled persons or to gain greater participation of local people in a community rehabilitation programme. It also highlights that community theatre can be a good method for educating people about important preventive measures and recommends that actors can be disabled persons, parents of disabled children, health workers, rehabilitation workers, schoolchildren, or any combination of these
Chapter 48 of "Disabled Village Children" by David Warner

The inclusion club

THE INCLUSION CLUB

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The inclusion club is an online international community that provides opportunities for people with disability to participate in sport and physical activity. This website provides resources, tools, case studies, good practices, videos and models on disability sports
Note: Free registration is required

Ways to get people thinking and acting : village theatre and puppet show [Chapter 27]

WERNER, D
BOWER, B
2012

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This chapter explores role playing, sociodramas, people’s theater, and puppet shows as forms of action-packed group story-telling for health workers. Each can be used to explore problems or situations by acting them out and learning processes are provided for both actors and watchers based upon participation and discovery
Chapter 27 of "Helping Health Workers Learn" by D. Warner and B. Bower