BUCS Disability Sport Questionnaire
Feb 2014
General:
Do you currently
participate in
sport/activity
No
Yes
Total
Learning
difficulty
HI
Mental
health
1
(25%)
3
(75%)
5
(16%)
27
(84%)
7
(35%)
13
(65%)
Other
2
(22%)
7
(78%)
4
32
20
9
Physical
disability
5
(23%)
17
(77%)
VI
2
(67%)
1
(33%)
Total
22
(24%)
68
(76%)
22
3
90

The responses give the impression that a significant number of disabled students
(76%) are participating in sporting activity. However, it should be noted that the
results may be skewed due to the questionnaire having been more likely to have
been distributed to those students already engaged with BUCS or the sports
department at their university/student’s union.

The distribution of impairments listed by respondents does not follow the same
distribution pattern shown in the latest HESA data figures (2012-13). Of those
declaring a disability in 2012-13 48% of students noted a learning difficulty,
compared to 36% for this survey. Also, only 11% of students declared mental
health difficulties in 2012-13, compared to 22% for this survey.
1
Where people participate in sport (individually, at their institution or in their
community):

Currently, most respondents participate in sport at their institution - 56 out of the
68 people who said that they participate. Only 14 people said that they
participated in their community.

The split between the impairments was reasonably consistent apart from there
being a relatively high percentage of people with a physical disability
participating as an individual, away from the institution - 9 people from the 17
people with physical disabilities who said they participated in sport.

When asked where people would like to participate in sport there was a significant
increase in the numbers of people who would like to participate at their
institution or within their community (from 56 and 14, to 77 and 30,
respectively). The number of people who said they would like to participate as an
individual was very similar to the number of people who already take part in
sport this way. This would lead to the conclusion that more formal opportunities
to take part in sport, whether at the institution or within the community, would
be welcomed by disabled students.
What type of sport do people participate in (a club team sport, a club individual
sport or an individual sport not as part of a club):

There is almost an even split between people taking part in team and individual
sports (45 and 47, respectively).

The percentage of people participating in a club team sport, rather than an
individual sport, is relatively high for those declaring either a mental health
difficulty or learning difficulty, compared to other impairment groups. This may be
that people within this impairment group prefer the club environment or that
there are far fewer participation opportunities for people with other impairments.
If you compare the type of sport people would prefer to participate ‘club team
sport’ becomes the most popular option for other impairments (except VI),
suggesting that the latter is true.
How people participate in sport (inclusive activities, pan-impairment activities
or impairment-specific activities):

There are only 6 respondents who are participating in pan-impairment or
impairment-specific activities. The numbers dramatically increases when asked
how people would like to participate in sport – 27 people would like panimpairment or impairment-specific activities. This suggests that there are not
enough disability-specific opportunities being provided for disabled students,
although, it should also be noted that 18 of these students selected that they
would also be happy participating in inclusive activities.
2

32% of the respondents with physical disabilities and 33% of the respondents
with visual impairments said that they would like impairment-specific activities.
This was more than double the number of responses from any other impairment
group.

None of the respondents with hearing impairments said that they would like
impairment-specific activities but 100% of them said they would prefer inclusive
activities.
Barriers to sport:

Of the 21 respondents who made comments about the barriers to them
participating in activity only 10 of them noted a barrier related to their disability.
There was no clear trend in the barriers given.
o
Three respondents mentioned that the level of the teams available to them
is too high for them because of their disability.
o
Two respondents with mental health issues were concerned about the
location of activities they would like to do. One person because they have
anxiety issues and they are often in open spaces and the other person
because they felt it was too far for them to travel.
o
Two respondents with visual impairments felt that there wasn’t anything
available to them because of their disability.
o
Two respondents with physical disabilities felt that the facilities at their
institution are not physically accessible to them.
o
One respondent with mental health issues felt that the clubs are too
competitive and not accepting of their condition.
3
Appendix 1: Questionnaire structure
Background:
[1] What is your impairment group?
[2] Which institution are you from (optional)?
Participation:
[3] Do you currently participate in sport/activity?
-
Yes (please answer the questions below)
-
No (please go to question 6 below)
[4] If yes, where do you participate (you may select more than one answer)?
-
In the community
-
At my institution
-
Individually
[5] What type of sport/activity is it?
-
A team sport/activity, as part of a club
-
An individual sport/activity, as part of a club
-
An individual sport/activity, on my own
[6] How would you describe the activity you participate in?
-
An inclusive activity (an activity whereby disabled and non-disabled people
participate together)
-
A pan-impairment activity (an activity where people of different impairments
participate together)
-
An impairment specific activity (an activity where participants all have the same
impairment)
[7] Please use this section to give us more information if you believe that the questions
above do not give an accurate picture of your current sporting engagement.
[8] If you don't currently participate in sport/activity what do you consider to be the
barriers to you participating in the current student offer.
4
Preferences:
[9] Where would you prefer to participate in sport/activity?
-
In the community
-
At my institution
-
Individually
-
I would prefer not to participate in any sport/activity (please use the text box
below to give reasons)
[10] What type of sport/activity would you prefer to participate in?
-
In a team, as part of a club
-
As an individual, as part of a club
-
An individual sport/activity, on my own
[11] How would you prefer to participate in sport/activity?
-
In an inclusive activity (an activity whereby disabled and non-disabled people
participate together)
-
In a pan-impairment activity (an activity where people of different impairments
participate together)
-
In an impairment specific activity (an activity where participants all have the
same impairment)
[12] Please use this section to give us any further information you think is relevant
about your sporting preferences.
5
Appendix 2: Collated Responses
CURRENT
Where
Hearing
impairment
Learning difficulty
Mental health
condition
Other
Physical disability
Visual impairment
Grand Total
Individual
Type
Club team
sport
Hearing
impairment
Learning difficulty
Mental health
condition
Other
Physical disability
Visual impairment
Grand Total
How
Hearing
impairment
Learning difficulty
Mental health
condition
Other
Physical disability
Visual impairment
Grand Total
At the institution
In community
2
10
3
24
1
6
4
3
9
11
6
11
1
56
3
1
3
28
Club individual
sport
14
An individual
1
23
2
5
2
7
9
4
8
4
3
9
1
24
3
3
7
1
23
45
Inclusive
activity
Pan-impairment
activity
Impairment-specific
activity
2
26
1
1
12
7
16
1
64
1
6
2
2
5
2
PREFERENCES
Where
Hearing
impairment
Learning difficulty
Mental health
condition
Other
Physical disability
Visual impairment
Grand Total
Individual
Type
Club team
sport
Hearing
impairment
Learning difficulty
Mental health
condition
Other
Physical disability
Visual impairment
Grand Total
How
Hearing
impairment
Learning difficulty
Mental health
condition
Other
Physical disability
Visual impairment
Grand Total
At the institution
In community
3
6
3
27
1
9
9
4
7
1
30
17
9
19
2
77
8
4
7
1
30
Club individual
sport
An individual
3
25
1
10
2
8
14
8
17
1
68
8
7
14
2
42
7
4
6
1
28
Inclusive
activity
Pan-impairment
activity
Impairment-specific
activity
4
27
1
4
3
15
8
19
3
76
5
4
5
1
20
3
1
7
1
15
7
CURRENT
8
PREFERED
9