Has access to sport improved following the Paralympics
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Has access to sport for children with special needs improved following the London 2012 Paralympics and Olympics?
IRAS ID
168693
Contact name
Ian Male
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sussex NHS Research Consortium
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 9 days
Research summary
In a previous study, completed in 2010, prior to the 2012 Paralympics, children with special needs such as autistic spectrum disorder were found to have roughly half the opportunities to participate in sport compared with their typically developing peers. This study aims to determine whether this situation has improved as a result of the London 2012 Paralympics. It will be a comparative cross-sectional study with a qualitative component. It will ask parents of children aged 8-11 years about their child's access to sport using the same questionnaire as the initial study, but with extra questions directly exploring the impact of the Paralympics. Three groups of children will be included; typically developing children attending mainstream school, children with special needs attending mainstream school, and children with special needs attending special school. Data will be analysed to determine number of sports played regularly in each group (a measure used by Sport England to determine sports access), and at representative level. Comparative statistics between the groups will also be calculated. A question regarding whether the parents think that the paralympics made a difference to their children's access in sports will be added. Data will also be compared with outcomes of the initial study.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/EE/0044
Date of REC Opinion
26 Feb 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion