Sport for people with disabilities

OneYorkshireLass

I'm on a hunt for different/extreme/unusual sports that can accommodate disabled people.

My area just does the usual (boring, IMO) sports like swimming and football.

Does anyone do anything different?

So far I've found Flyability which looks amazing. Any ideas like that (or not quite so dangerous) are greatly appreciated.

Owain_Moneysaver

You could try NHS Search

Indie_Kid

My local sports centre does wheelchair rugby, wheelchair dancing and swimming for people with disabilities.

OneYorkshireLass

sh1305 wrote: »

My local sports centre does wheelchair rugby, wheelchair dancing and swimming for people with disabilities.

Fabulous. But if you're not in a wheelchair? I've kinda wanted to ask if I can borrow a wheelchair previously .... but would that be frowned upon?

torbrex

OneYorkshireLass wrote: »

Fabulous. But if you're not in a wheelchair? I've kinda wanted to ask if I can borrow a wheelchair previously .... but would that be frowned upon?

Why not, they did it for the Guiness advert.

Wheelchair tennis is another one, I was just reading about classes available, there is also archery and shooting for people with non-wheelchair disabilities.

OneYorkshireLass

torbrex wrote: »

Why not, they did it for the Guiness advert.

Wheelchair tennis is another one, I was just reading about classes available, there is also archery and shooting for people with non-wheelchair disabilities.

Oh yeah, they did. Thanks. I will ask the question if I find anything interesting yet wheelchair-based

Archery's good. Will look into that.

kingfisherblue

Wheels for All - cycling. Ask your local Social Services department if it operates in your area.

Boccia.

New Age Kurling - great fun!

Climbing, abseiling, canoeing and similar activities are available at Bendrigg in the Lake District and at the Calvert Trust, which has a few centres around the UK.

A local rhythmic gymnastics team has a member with Down's Syndrome.

Edge Hill University is the base for a gymnastics team made up entirely of disabled people, but I believe that it is one of only a handful of similar teams in this country.

Badminton, bowling, and tennis. My son enjoys putting at the local golf course, although he couldn't get round the course itself.

Horse riding for the disabled operates in several stables around the country.

You could ask local special schools if they have any sports available there. I know that my son's school has teams of disabled sportsmen and women that meet there. Also, contact your local council and ask for the sports coordinator. They should be aware of anything available in your area, and have contact details.

You could also contact the main association for any sport that you have an interest in. They may be able to tell you about any clubs in your region that are suitable for people with disabilities. They may not be made up of entirely disabled people, but might be able to accommodate your needs.

Indie_Kid

I'm now trying to remember the British organisation which has a list (or did) of places which has disability sports.

It might be British disability sport; but can't remember.

I personally am not a member of such a club aimed at disabled people. But the running club I'm a member of, the majority have some form of disability. I've been told once my times improve, we can look into registering me as a disabled athlete.

elsien

We used to have sailing and canoeing in adapted boats, but the charity folded when it lost its grant - it was called youth afloat, as it did schools as well. Might there be anything like that near you? It was on a local lake as we're nowhere near the sea.
There's also the special Olympics skiing - that's for people with learning disabilities.

GlasweJen

Only problem with wheelchair sports is having to get the right chair if you go to competitions - I've spent about £1200 on 2 very basic sports chairs and I just play for fun.

The local council gym had a list of disabled sports but didn't host any of them!

If it's a disability that can be organised around with a bit of imagination why not call a regular group and ask if they'll have you? I have 3 disabled brownies even though we have a disabled group locally too - my kids were too high functioning for the group (which is attached to a special needs school) but need a bit of thought put into their activities.

G-MIKI

OneYorkshireLass wrote: »

I'm on a hunt for different/extreme/unusual sports that can accommodate disabled people.

My area just does the usual (boring, IMO) sports like swimming and football.

Does anyone do anything different?

So far I've found Flyability which looks amazing. Any ideas like that (or not quite so dangerous) are greatly appreciated.

Well I wouldn't call flying dangerous so here's some more links:
http://www.aerobility.com/
http://www.fsfdp.org.uk/
http://www.disabledflying.org.uk/index.php

and for the biker in you...
http://www.nabd.org.uk/