Supporting adaptive Snowsports Leisure Opportunities for PEople with disabilities (SSLOPE)
Exploring participation and engagement in winter leisure-time physical activities
Participating in leisure-time physical activities (LTPA) contributes to the wellbeing of people with disabilities, but opportunities for engagement can be limited, especially in the winter. Hence, the aim of this study was to examine the quality of the participation in adaptive snow sports and efficient strategies to support meaningful engagement in winter LTPA.
The study consisted of three phases: 1) an online survey, completed by 133 skiers/snowboarders with disabilities, to identify factors for high quality participation, 2) interviews with adaptative snow sports program leaders about how they support participation, and 3) interviews with individuals with disabilities who previously participated in snow sports to explore reasons for stopping.
Findings included:
- Participants engaged in adaptive snow sports generally reported high quality of participation. Key factors impacting participation were the program (e.g., equipment, instructors) and environmental barriers.
- Adaptive programs are making attempts to reduce barriers such as accessibility and socioeconomic limitations, but a collaborative, multidimensional approach is required to foster high quality participation.
- People who had ceased active engagement with snow sports flagged issues with the programs and sports as the primary reasons (e.g., eligibility criteria, program availability, issues with instructors and equipment, physicality of activity).
