Perspectives for the Future of the Disabled in Sport

Sports have value to the individual, and the atypical individual with a disability merits the same opportunity to pursue these values as the so-called able-bodied. Sports therefore are justified on the assumption that they serve as a medium for developing desirable attitudes and behavior that contribute to the fullest utilization of one’s own health. Today’s sport leaders see a two-prong approach to the organization of these opportunities: (a) down with the barriers that keep the atypical athlete from participating and competing with the able-bodied athletes when talent and commitment are equal to the challenge, and (b) up with the sport programs from which, were it not for these adaptations, those with disabilities could not benefit from the values of sport participation.