Is it time to support the trailblazer? Commentary on 'Barriers to physical activity and sport participation for people with intellectual disabilities from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds' (Kappelides, Bould, Bigby, 2021)*

摘要

In this commentary, I have highlighted the barriers to participation in physical activity by people with intellectual disabilities found by Kappelides et al. (2021) and suggested actions from an organisational and systemic perspective. I have explored the impact of discriminatory attitudes towards the trailblazers who have borne the brunt of attitudinal barriers faced by people with disabilities when participating in sport. By trailblazers, I refer to the people with disabilities who are among the first to participate in a mainstream service. In this instance, I have referred to people with disabilities as a cohort, which includes individuals with intellectual disabilities. Discussions about models and disability and systemic barriers in this commentary are valid for all types of disability, so I have not distinguished this cohort further.