Sport Inclusion and Accessibility in Schools
Everyone should have the opportunity to play in school and be a part of the action in any way they choose.
Why is sport inclusion and accessibility important in schools?
Sport should be accessible, safe, and fun for every student to enjoy and be a part of. Offering inclusive sports programs and encouraging greater accessibility and inclusion in schools does not only promote physical health, but also gives students of all abilities the chance to learn and interact with each other, building friendships and understanding along the way.
That’s why Sport4All’s award-winning inclusive sports program has been designed and delivered by people with disability and lived experiences, to help you build genuinely inclusive sports programs for your school.
What are some benefits of inclusive sports in schools?
Creating inclusive sports can help students feel a greater sense of belonging within their school community.
Being part of an inclusive sport environment allows students with disability to experience the fun and excitement that school sport offers, as well as develop essential motor skills.
It gives students with disability the opportunity to enjoy the same physical, mental and social benefits from playing sport or being involved in physical activity as the other students do.
Your school's sport inclusion journey is simple.
Here's how to get started:
Register and take our inclusion
check-in survey.
Start the journey to inclusion in your school with our simple, 3-minute check-in survey. Don’t worry if you’re new to inclusion; we all start somewhere. Once you complete the assessment, we collect your answers and see where your school is doing well and identify where improvements can be made. We highlight areas that need more focus on increasing disability and accessibility inclusion, which is then done through the Sport4All online learning workspace.
Discover our award-winning
inclusive sports training.
Learn from our fantastic training program! You will be able to view accessible videos, which are available in multiple languages with more being added, access posters with helpful tips, and useful checklists to help make your school more inclusive for people with disability.
Already registered?
Make a difference in your school.
Now put what you’ve learned into practice! With support of our Inclusion Coaches, develop your own Sport4All Inclusion Action Plan for your school and create a welcoming and safe place for students with disability. Your SIAP will give your school a framework of how you plan to incorporate inclusive actions across your sports program(s). The SIAP outlines the clear actions that your school will commit to annually, that supports increased participation for people with disability. Remember, even small changes can have a big impact!
We use the TREE model for sports inclusion.
The TREE model is a framework we use to help your school and teachers adapt sports and activities to suit a range of abilities. It’s a great practical tool that includes a range of suggested methods and tips to assist you in introducing more accessibility and inclusion to your school.
TREE stands for:
Teaching style focuses on the way the game is communicated to the students. It’s all about making sure the instructions are delivered in a way that everyone can understand. This could include:
- Using clear and inclusive language
- Providing visual demonstrations where needed
- Checking in with students to make sure they know what they are doing
Some students may find certain rules difficult to follow or understand so adapting a game or sport by changing or simplifying the rules as needed is a great option. Other way to support students could be:
- Starting activities with a few rules that are easy to remember
- Slowly introducing rules as students start to better understand the activity
- Teaching activities in parts or at a slower pace
Swapping out or using alternative sizes, shapes, colours, textures and/or weights of equipment can make a game or sport more accessible for students with disability.
When planning activities, it’s important to ensure whether the playing area is suitable for the mobility levels of all students.
Think about if:
- The floor allows for smooth movement of mobility aids
- Benches or chairs are nearby for students who find standing for long periods difficult
- The activities can be done from the floor e.g. from a sitting, kneeling, or side-lying position
- The playing areas can be laid out to make tasks more achievable e.g. increase the size of the goals to improve the chances of scoring.
Here are five things schools can do today to make it a more inclusive place.
1. Be open and flexible. Inclusion in schools is important and there are so many ways to involve students with disability!
2. Use person-first language. This puts the focus on the student so that they come before their disability, e.g. “a student with disability”.
3. Ask don’t assume. Ask the student with disability how they would like to participate. Don’t make assumptions about what they can and can’t do.
4. Accessibility helps everyone. Even small changes can have a big impact on a student with disability.
5. Get your school involved. Kickstart your school’s inclusion journey by registering to take part in Sport4All’s inclusive sports program.
“The Sport4All Professional Learning session seemed like it was a great success, from talking with a few team members it was a great way to look at teaching PE. A few have already started the conversation with me about how they can help their students achieve. Which is a great success!”
– Zack Bond
P.E. and Health Leader, Tarneit P-9 College
