Families can't be active together
Who says we can't change perceptions about disability, inclusion, and sport?
Watch this film and access positive stories, resources, and guidance to challenge your own and other's perceptions.
Watch families can't be active together film
(Families can't be active together transcript)
Who says? – our exciting campaign is back and this time it’s all about children and young people. Join us in calling time on negative perceptions about disability, inclusion, and sport.
This phase of the campaign focuses on changing attitudes towards disabled children and young people in sport and activity. The campaign films explore four negative perceptions that can impact a disabled child’s opportunities to be active. Attitudes can make or break activity experiences. In society, disabled people of all ages experience countless harmful opinions that lead to marginalisation, low confidence, and inactivity. That's why changing attitudes is crucial in ensuring a future active generation.
This page responds to Activity Alliance and others' research and insight on the perception – Families can't be active together.
What do we know?
Insight from our 2020 research report – My Active Future: including every child
- Children with active parents are more likely to be active themselves.
- Seven in ten (72%) parents of disabled children want to take part in more sport and physical activity with their child.
- Nine in ten (86%) parents of disabled children say their child’s level of physical activity is important to them.
- Parents feel more information on what is suitable, practical support during activities and advice from medical professionals would help them to support their child to be active.
Calling time on this perception
Sport and activity can be social and fun, and this attracts both disabled and non-disabled people to take part. Many families include disabled children or parents, so increasing opportunities to be active as a family in the community makes sense. Some family members may be the main carer so will come along to activities as a supporter.
Research shows the more active the family is, the more active the child will be. Those family values and motivation to find ways to be active together can last a lifetime.
Many family events offer accessible activities and consider families with disabled children or parents. If you are an event organiser, our team can help you to develop your event more inclusively. There are many resources on how you can adapt events and support more families to join in.
Who says? empowers people, on and off the field of play, to challenge their own and others’ perceptions.
Being Active Guide
An everyday guide for people living with an impairment or health condition on how and where to start being more physically active. Activity Alliance wrote this guide in partnership with Disability Rights UK and it provides information in a quick, easy format.
Say yes to Sport! – CP Sport
This resource was developed with funding from the Toy Trust. It is aimed at children aged 13 and under who have cerebral palsy and their families. It contains useful information about CP Sport services as well as fun activities to complete.
WheelPower workouts for young people
WheelPower has created a series of themed virtual workout classes for disabled children and young people. Classes are aimed at both primary and secondary aged children, but that doesn't mean they can't be enjoyed by the whole family, or even your class at school Fun themes include superheroes, animals, pirates and more!
View WheelPower workouts for young people
Limbformation
Limbformation offers support to children and families living with limb difference. Designed as an easy to use one-stop shop providing information, resources, advice, and useful links with a child born with a congenital limb disorder or with an acquired amputation.
First Steps – British Blind Sport
British Blind Sport’s First Steps project supports blind and partially sighted children and their families with their first steps in physical exercise. Families with children aged 18 months to 11 years can apply to receive a free activity pack including adaptive equipment, information, and one-to-one support.
Find out more about First Steps
UK Deaf Sport children and young people resources
UK Deaf Sport is working with Sport England to provide Deaf and HOH (Hard Of Hearing) people of all ages with accessible, deaf friendly resources and activities. On their website you will find some fun routines for children and young people covering a variety of high and low intensity sports and activities!
IMAS – International Mixed Ability Sports
Mixed Ability from IMAS takes an innovative approach to breaking down the barriers to taking part in sport. Whether that’s disability, age, gender, background, or poor self-perception. Mixed Ability emphasises regular activities through club membership and opportunities for social interaction for everyone. Participants from a wide range of background and abilities share experiences and learning through interactive and accessible training resources. This creates sporting environments that are safe, welcoming, and non-judgmental.
Find out more about International Mixed Ability Sports
National Trust
The National Trust is for everyone, and they want to make it easy for disabled visitors to enjoy the places they care for. They’re continually looking to create solutions for accessibility which are creative and sensitive to their surroundings. They also have an ongoing process of improving accessibility information for their places.
Access for everyone – National Trust
Get Out Get Active learning resources
This series of learning resources shares the What? How? Who? And What next our Get Out Get Active programme. They aim to help others to be genuinely inclusive and reach people that would benefit most from being more active. In these resources you will find evidence-based approaches to engaging inactive people successfully.
Learning resources from Get Out Get Active
National Disability Sports Organisations
The National Disability Sports Organisations (NDSOs) are a good starting point for advice, support, and opportunities. They can provide useful information on adapting sports for people of all ages with specific impairments. Many of the NDSOs hold fun sports events for families throughout the year.
The eight NDSOs are: British Blind Sport, Cerebral Palsy Sport, Dwarf Sports Association UK, LimbPower, Mencap, Special Olympics Great Britain, UK Deaf Sport and WheelPower.
Find out more about National Disability Sports Organisations
Call time on negative perceptions with us
Taking the conversation beyond the #WhoSays hashtag is important to us. It’s crucial we talk honestly and openly about matters that affect disabled people’s activity, like policy, funding, and the media. We hope this campaign leads to bigger conversations, greater collaboration, and wider systemic responses.
If you, or your organisation would like to get involved, has a story to share, or you have a great idea for the campaign, please contact news@activityalliance.org.uk or call 0161 200 5443.
Get involved and join the conversation on social media – share the films and add your voice to the campaign by posting your own experiences using #WhoSays.
