How disability can win England the World Cup

摘要

The Football Association's disability football programme looks beyond the traditional medical model of disability, and focuses on ability and what an individual (and team) can achieve through sport. There are numerous disability football centres across the country, with inclusive participation in a diverse range of adapted formats of football including: cerebral palsy football, hearing-impaired football, visually-impaired football, partially-sighted football, learning disability football, and wheelchair football. Playing these versions of the game results in regular sociable competitive exercise and numerous health and social benefits.People living with a disability are less physically active and therefore more unfit than the general population, with these low levels of fitness serving as a significant predictor of premature death and morbidity. Rates of inactivity are as high as 92% for individuals living with a disability, compared to between 53-70% for individuals without a disability.3 The UK has over 11 million people living with impairment or disability. This is a considerable number of inactive people and this situation generates consequential health risks. It is logical that increased physical activity could undoubtedly reduce these health inequalities and improve the lifestyle of people livinq with a disability.