Assistive Technology to Promote Participation in Sport for People with Disabilities

Participation in sports is identified in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as a fundamental right and is facilitated by the use of specialized Assistive Products (AP). However, little is known about the role everyday AP plays in promoting sport participation. Purpose: This study explores how the 50 priority APs on the World Health Organization's Assistive Products List can promote participation in sports. Materials and methods: We used an online survey with AP-users, caregivers, and coaches (n=96). Subsequently, we performed a thematic analysis for qualitative responses describing the use of APs in facilitating sport participation. Results: Our results suggest everyday APs are required for sport participation for persons with disabilities. We present a conceptual model of AP use for sport participation. We found people with disability participate in a range of sports, contributing to community engagement. Conclusions: Access to everyday APs is integral to achieving the rights of persons with disabilities for participation in sport.