Enhancing Inclusion and Physical Activity for Australians Living with Disability

Approximately 4.4 million Australians, or 18% of the population, live with disability. The proportion is expected to rise with an aging population. Despite the benefits of physical activity, adults with disability are less physically active than their counterparts without disability. This gap represents not only a health disparity but a crucial area for societal improvement.

The Benefits of Physical Activity for People with Disability

A comprehensive review encompassing 74 trials and nearly 3,000 men and women living with mild-to-moderate physical and intellectual disability highlighted the benefits of community-based physical activities such as dance, Tai Chi, and yoga. These activities led to improvements in walking, balance, and quality of life, and reductions in fatigue, depression, and anxiety. Nevertheless, inclusive community-based physical activities for people with disability remain limited, thus increasing their risk of further disability.

Specific programs, like the one in Adelaide where young adults with an intellectual disability learned to cycle with the help of University of South Australia researchers, BikeSA, and local NDIS-supported organizations, have shown promising results. The program utilized indoor fluid trainers and immersive virtual reality footage to teach the participants to cycle, resulting in improved motor and cognitive skills, increased physical activity, and enhanced social connections with other community cycling groups.

Challenges and Barriers to Physical Activity for People with Disability

The lack of choice, the need for adjustments and extra equipment, and limited accessibility to services present barriers to participation in physical activities for individuals living with disabilities. Furthermore, few activity leaders have the necessary experience and training to work effectively with people with disability, which affects the confidence of both the leaders and the individuals with disability in joining local classes.

Building an Inclusive Community

The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability has recently recommended strengthening laws to protect people with disability and prevent discrimination. Momentum and expectation for better inclusion for people living with disability is growing in Australian society.

However, there is a clear need for more physical activity options suitable for people with disability. Community organizations can play a significant role in improving accessibility and offering training to staff and volunteers to welcome people with disability.

Innovative solutions like the smart step gaming system, a home-based computer game intervention for fall prevention in community-dwelling older people, have been shown to significantly reduce the rate of falls over a 12-month period. Such initiatives, if expanded and made accessible to people with disability, could promote physical activity in a safe, inclusive, and enjoyable way.

Conclusion

As we strive towards a more inclusive society, it is critical to focus on improving physical activity inclusion for people with disabilities. This includes creating more options suitable for people with disability, ensuring safe access, providing suitable equipment for community-based physical activities, and fostering welcoming and accepting environments. By doing so, we can enhance not only the physical health of those living with disabilities but also their quality of life, mental health, and social connections.