POLICY ON SPORT FOR PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY

June 2006

Minister's Foreword

I am pleased to present Sport Canada's Policy on Sport for Persons with a Disability.

Sport and physical activity help maintain Canadians' health, strengthen our communities, and contribute to our overall quality of life. Canada's new government is committed to developing sport in Canada. We want to encourage all Canadians to become more involved in sport, including persons with a disability.

The Policy on Sport for Persons with a Disability provides a framework for engaging partners and stakeholders in initiating changes that aim to reduce and ultimately eliminate sport-specific barriers that prevent persons with a disability from participating in sport. At the same time, the Policy addresses some of the environmental, structural, systemic, social and personal barriers that keep many persons with a disability from being full participants in Canadian society.

The Policy envisions the full and active participation of persons with a disability in Canadian sport at all levels and in all forms, to the extent of their abilities and interests. Canada is a leading player on the international scene for the inclusion of persons with a disability in sport. As Canadians, we recognize how important it is to ensure persons with a disability have the means to reach their potential and participate as full members in our society.

As President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, and Minister for Sport, I look forward to working with my federal colleagues, provinces and territories, sport organizations, and the private sector to continue to make Canada a country where every citizen can benefit from sport.

Michael Chong

1.0 INTRODUCTION
2.0 SCOPE
3.0 CONTEXT
- 3.1 Policy Environment
- 3.2 Contributions of Sport
- 3.3 Socio-economic Issues Specific to Persons with a Disability
- 3.4 Issues in Sport for Persons with a Disability
- 3.5 Strengths and Challenges
- 3.6 Guiding Principles
4.0 VISION
5.0 OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES
- 5.1 Increasing Participation
- 5.1.1 Raising Awareness
- 5.1.2 Access
- 5.2 Supporting Excellence
- 5.2.1 Talent Identification and Development
- 5.2.2 Competitive Opportunities
- 5.2.3 Coaching
- 5.2.4 Sport Science and Medicine
- 5.3 Building Capacity
- 5.3.1 Eligibility, Classification and Divisioning
- 5.3.2 Human Resource Development
- 5.3.3 Research
- 5.4 Fostering Interaction
- 5.4.1 Federal-Provincial/Territorial Partnerships
- 5.4.2 Networking
- 5.4.3 International Representation
6.0 POLICY IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION
7.0 CONCLUSION
APPENDICES
- A – Glossary
- B – Long‑Term Athlete Development for Athletes and Sport Participants with a Disability
- C – Federal Government Role in Sport for Athletes with a Disability

[ Table of Contents ]