People with intellectual disability and their families’ perspectives of Special Olympics Ireland

Abstract

Previous research has highlighted that while involvement in Special Olympics can have benefits for athletes and their families, there can also be many barriers to participation. This qualitative study, which was part of a large mixed-method study, examined the experiences and perspectives of people with intellectual disability, their families and staff who work with them, about Special Olympics Ireland (SOI). A total of 47 participants (15 athletes, 6 non-athletes, 18 family members and 8 staff members) participated in focus group and individual interviews. Supplemental data, gathered as part of the larger study extracted from open-ended survey questions completed by 97 family members also informed this element. Findings revealed four main themes: impact of participation on athletes, impact of involvement on families, barriers to participation and how to enhance participation rates. Involvement in Special Olympics impacted positively on the quality of life of athletes and families. Enhanced availability of user-friendly information and service accessibility were important drivers identified for enhancing participation rates in Special Olympics.