22006400 Benjamin Fisher

Disability and Sport: A qualitative study on how attitudes towards disability are influenced by

experiences of sport

Benjamin Fisher

Dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the degree of BSc in Human & Physical Geography (Honours)

GV3GED

Supervisor: Dr. Ruth Evans

April 2016

Word Count: 9,999

Abstract

Attitudes towards disability are prominent in all socio-cultural environments. Whether the physical

barriers that exist outweigh the attitudinal barriers, a person with a disability has their potential

limited. Interviews, focus groups, group interviews and participant observation brought to light

experiences of disability and sport, alongside attitudes towards disability. It was found that although

sport provided socio-physical benefits such as cardiometabolic fitness or social interaction, it also

stimulated confidence, self-efficacy, and a strong self identity. This allowed an individual with a

disability to achieve their potential and experience higher quality day to day life. Comparatively, sport

was negative for some disabled people, with the notion of the ‘supercrip’ disempowering some. The

‘supercrip’ term represents sporting elites with a disability being like superhumans, resulting in

society having higher expectations of people with a disability. Both through interaction and media, it

was found societal attitudes towards disability were challenged. Through the medium of sport, ableist

assumptions were challenged and increased awareness from sporting events like the paralympic

games justifies the importance of sport in changing attitudes towards disability.

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