Adaptive Sports Equipment: A Resource for Clinicians, Coaches, & Athletes

Abstract

Background: About 61 million adults who live in the United States (US) have a disability, which equates to about one in four adults in the US (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020). Unfortunately, only one out of every ten people who need assistive technology (AT) have access to the proper equipment, with lack of awareness of the devices being one of the causes (World Health Organization [WHO], 2018). It has been noted in literature that a lack of awareness exists amongst clinicians, coaches, & athletes regarding available adaptive equipment (AE) to support participation in adaptive sports ([AS] Bergem, 2020). Problem/Purpose: A lack of knowledge of adaptive sports equipment amongst clinicians, coaches, and athletes with disabilities is a barrier to participation in AS. The purpose of this capstone project was to create an online resource that describes the types of AE available to enable participation in AS by athletes with disabilities. The Human Activity Assistive Technology (HAAT) Model was used to develop this online resource that considered a range of activities, contexts, and client factors that determine the selection of AE to participate in sports. Methods: This project was developed in partnership with Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), with information compiled from literature searches, internet searches per sport, sifting through books regarding AT, and conversations with CAF leaders and mentors. Information gathered was then used to develop the online resource, which was published as an expansion to CAF’s website. Results: A comprehensive adaptive sports equipment resource was published on CAF’s website that provides information on AE for 18 sports total. Further expansion of the webpage is needed to include AE for additional sports, ensuing improved access to and knowledge of adaptive sports equipment among clinicians, coaches, and athletes with disabilities.