Promotion of physical activity and sport in people with intellectual disabilities

ongoing

There are manifold positive effects of regular physical activity and sport on all domains of health and well-being. These effects are irrespective of age, gender, origin or a potential disability. However, people with intellectual disabilities show lower levels of physical activity and sport participation is mainly underrepresented due to several structural issues. Thus, it is important to promote health-related physical activity behaviour and open the organised sports world for the target group of people with intellectual disabilities. Against this backdrop, regional specific guidelines on physical activity promotion have been developed both in Graz (Austria) and in Bielefeld (Germany). The aim of PASpo-ID is to bring those documents together, explore the content with physically active and inactive people with disabilities in a participatory approach and create a final handbook on physical activity promotion in an easy-to-read version of German and English language. Thus, it can be guaranteed, that more people with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers can be reached and benefit from the results. The project consortium is set up of the two tertiary education organisations PHSt and HSBI, having experience in health promotion in people with intellectual disabilities as well as a social service provider for people with intellectual disabilities (Lebenshilfe Brakel, Germany) and an inclusive sport club (Sportbündel, Austria), to promote a healthy lifestyle and increase the physical activity levels in people with intellectual disabilities.