Disability Sports News – October 2026
Welcome to the latest disability sports news article. Here we round up some of the latest news from the disability charities and sports organisations that we are proud to work closely with.
Disability Sports Organisations and charities are a good starting point for many deaf and disabled people who want to be more active. They provide advice, support, and opportunities for people of all ages with specific impairments to take part in sport and activity.
Latest news
Dwarf Sports Association
Celebrating the Legacy of Dwarf Sport: Honouring Our History and Inspiring the Future
Staff, trustees, ambassadors, supporters and Paralympians from Dwarf Sports Association UK (DSAuk) were delighted to attend the launch of A History of Dwarf Sport: Birmingham and Beyond, marking an important opportunity to recognise the people, stories and milestones that have shaped disability sport.
Our history is an important part of understanding how far dwarf sport and the wider para sport movement have come. Through determination, resilience and a shared commitment to inclusion, barriers have been challenged, perceptions changed and new opportunities created. The progress we celebrate today reflects the dedication of those who paved the way, whose achievements continue to inspire us to build a more inclusive future for generations to come.
Access Sport
Access Sport Launches ‘Making Wellbeing Visible’ Research
Access Sport is pleased to launch our new Making Wellbeing Visible research and an accompanying toolkit, designed to help community sports clubs better understand, measure and support the wellbeing of disabled and neurodivergent young people.
To launch the project, Access Sport has released a new film featuring Wes, a member of the Youth Researcher Panel that helped design the research. In this deeply personal and honest account, Wes explains how joining Swindon Shock, a local wheelchair basketball club, empowered him to rebuild his life after years of social isolation and poor mental wellbeing.
Disability Rights UK
New research reveals how fear of losing benefits is preventing Disabled people from being physically active – and why urgent reform of the social security system is needed.
Imagine being encouraged to exercise to improve your health, manage a long-term condition or maintain your independence, but being afraid that doing so could cost you the financial support you rely on.
For thousands of Disabled people, this is not a hypothetical situation. It is the reality of what has become known as the Activity Trap.
LimbPower
LimbPower has launched a new suite of teenage transition resources designed to help young people with amputations and limb differences build the confidence, knowledge and practical skills they need as they move towards adulthood.
The resources have an important role beyond the clinic. Coaches, PE teachers, lecturers, university sport teams and physical activity providers can all help ensure that changes in education, healthcare, prosthetic provision and daily life do not become barriers to staying active.
Sense
New Balance Foundation funds new activities
We’re excited to share that Sense Active has launched a new programme of activities for disabled children and young people, including rebound therapy, sensory sport and rhythmic gymnastics.
The programme has been made possible thanks to a generous grant from the New Balance Foundation, the charitable foundation of New Balance. The Foundation has also donated trainers and clothing for Sense Active participants!
British Blind Sport
McDonald's Fun Football Blind & Partially Sighted Football Sessions - Darlington Locomotives
FC Darlington Locomotives will be delivering free football sessions to girls aged 5-11 with a visual impairment. These sessions provide the children with the exciting opportunity to learn new football skills, gain confidence, make new friends and have fun. Each session will last for one hour from 5-6pm.
UK Deaf Sport
Deaf Sport Personality of the Year Awards 2026
You are invited to join in the celebrations of deaf sport at the forthcoming Deaf Sport Personality of the Year Awards in Birmingham in November 2026.
It is a weekend of sporting success, celebrating the achievements of the Tokyo DeaflympicsGB Team and opportunities to take part in sporting activity.
Book your tickets to join the celebrations across the weekend. More information is available on the Deaf Sport Personality of the Year Facebook page.
Special Olympics GB
Clint and Rathanan to represent Team Special Olympics GB at European Badminton Competition
Two Special Olympics Great Britain (GB) athletes will represent the movement on the international stage next month at the inaugural Special Olympics European Badminton Competition in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Rathanan Pathmanathan (17), from Special Olympics Surrey, and Clint Gardner (36), from Be Better Isle of Wight, will compete in singles and doubles at the tournament, which runs from 18–22 November and will feature athletes from 20 national delegations.
Both players, who competed in this year’s Special Olympics GB National Summer Games Badminton Competition, have experienced life-changing benefits through their participation in badminton.
Sport for Confidence
Independent evaluation by the University of Essex has demonstrated how Sport for Confidence’s Learning Arena is strengthening workforce capability, changing practice and building partnerships to embed inclusive physical activity across health, social care, education, sport and community settings.
Created by Sport for Confidence CIC and funded through Essex County Council’s Public Health Accelerator Bid Programme, the Learning Arena was established to build the knowledge, confidence and capability of professionals to embed inclusive physical activity into everyday practice.
Disability Sports Coach
From Volunteer to Coach: Devalle’s journey
Three and a half years ago, Devalle Webley joined Disability Sports Coach as a volunteer at Club Kensington & Chelsea.
At the time, he was still building his confidence and learning what it meant to be a coach. What followed was a journey of learning, experience and support that has helped him develop into a qualified Level 2 coach now delivering multiple inclusive sport sessions each week.
Photo credit: Access Sport
