Research on Sport for Athletes with Disabilities

Over the past 30 years, the focus of sport for individuals with disabilities has changed from rehabilitation to competition (DePauw, 1985a; Huber, 1984; Lindstrom, 1984). Today there are many opportunities through which athletes with disabilities can demonstrate their athletic abilities (Clarke, 1986). As the sport movement for individuals with disabilities continues to evolve, one can only envision a future which lies in the hands of research and technology, youth sport programs for the disabled, effective governance, and increased public awareness and acceptance (DePauw & Clarke, 1985; Steadward & Walsh, 1985). Research has not only provided preliminary knowledge and understanding of sport for individuals with disabilities, but has also facilitated much of the change (Steadward & Walsh, 1985). Sport for individuals with disabilities has been described in terms of history (Ammons, 1985; DePauw & Clarke, 1985; Guttmann, 1976; Huber, 1984; Jackson & Frederickson, 1979; Lindstrom, 1984; Lipton, 1970; Songster, 1985; Steadward & Walsh, 1985; Stein, 1985), sport classification (Lindstrom, 1985; McCann, 1980, 1981; Sherrill, Adams-Mushett, &Jones, 1985; Strohkendl, 1985; Weiss & Curtis, 1985), biomechanics (Gorton & Gavron, 1984; Higgs, 1985; Steadward, 1980), exercise physiology (Coutts, Rhodes, & McKenzie, 1983; Davis, Shephard, & Jackson, 1981; Dreisinger & Londeree, 1982; Gass & Camp, 1979; Wicks, Oldridge, Cameron, &Jones, 1983; Zwiren & Bar-Or, 1975), sport sociology/psychology (Brandmeyer & McBee, 1985; Cooper, Sherrill, & Marshall, 1986; Henschen, Horvat, & French, 1984; Labanowich, 1978; Roeder & Aufsesser, 1986; Sherrill, Rainbolt, Montelione, & Pope, 1985) and philosophy (Lindstrom, 1984; Morris, 1984). Despite research cited above and others not mentioned, sport for athletes with disabilities remains a fertile area for research studies. Current descriptions and research findings have provided initial knowledge and understanding of sport participation for individuals with disabilities.