Start Date
17-6-2025 9:00 AM
End Date
17-6-2025 10:30 AM
Abstract
Introduction As the organization at the forefront of advancing sports opportunities for people with disability in Flanders, G-sport Vlaanderen develops policies and programs that provide supports and dismantle barriers to sports participation. Central to its success is an accurate understanding of the current levels of sports participation among individuals with disabilities and factors influencing their participation (e.g., motivations and barriers). While the disability sports survey in 2018 and 2024 provided valuable insights to patterns of sports participation in Flanders, individuals with hearing impairments were underrepresented despite efforts to increase their engagement in the survey. The lack of reliable data on their sports participation and the factors that influence it presents a challenge to policy and program development.
Methodology To this end, we used a participatory action research approach to: 1) critically reflect on existing organizational practices related to individuals with hearing impairment; 2) engage in a constructive dialogue with relevant actors regarding barriers to sport participation; and 3) co-create strategies geared towards greater equity in sports participation. This was achieved through a series of focus-group discussions with stakeholders.
Results We present findings from the initial cycle, i.e., factors contributing to individual with hearing impairments’ limited engagement in sports, in general, and with G-sport Vlaanderen, in particular.
Conclusions Rather than passive recipients of supports, people with hearing impairment can be empowered to actively engage in the development of sports policies and programs pertinent to their lived realities and effective in accomplishing G-sports Vlaanderen’s desired outcome, i.e., sports for all.
Recommended Citation
Pineda, Roi Charles and De Waelle, Silke, "Unhearing and unheard: Emancipating the voices of individuals with hearing impairments toward equity in opportunities for sport participation" (2025). International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness. 22.
https://sword.mtu.ie/isapa/2025/day2/22
Unhearing and unheard: Emancipating the voices of individuals with hearing impairments toward equity in opportunities for sport participation
Introduction As the organization at the forefront of advancing sports opportunities for people with disability in Flanders, G-sport Vlaanderen develops policies and programs that provide supports and dismantle barriers to sports participation. Central to its success is an accurate understanding of the current levels of sports participation among individuals with disabilities and factors influencing their participation (e.g., motivations and barriers). While the disability sports survey in 2018 and 2024 provided valuable insights to patterns of sports participation in Flanders, individuals with hearing impairments were underrepresented despite efforts to increase their engagement in the survey. The lack of reliable data on their sports participation and the factors that influence it presents a challenge to policy and program development.
Methodology To this end, we used a participatory action research approach to: 1) critically reflect on existing organizational practices related to individuals with hearing impairment; 2) engage in a constructive dialogue with relevant actors regarding barriers to sport participation; and 3) co-create strategies geared towards greater equity in sports participation. This was achieved through a series of focus-group discussions with stakeholders.
Results We present findings from the initial cycle, i.e., factors contributing to individual with hearing impairments’ limited engagement in sports, in general, and with G-sport Vlaanderen, in particular.
Conclusions Rather than passive recipients of supports, people with hearing impairment can be empowered to actively engage in the development of sports policies and programs pertinent to their lived realities and effective in accomplishing G-sports Vlaanderen’s desired outcome, i.e., sports for all.