An investigation into the suitability of school sports facilities for paralympic athletes: a case study of selected schools in Kampala.

Abstract

The development of an all-inclusive education system in Uganda which is aimed at creating equal access to education and opportunities between learners with disability and those without has led to growth of disability sport. However, the idea of disability sport was originally a means of rehabilitation used in the late 1940’s after World War II veterans in Britain which grew over the years to create Paralympic games which are for persons with disability. In Uganda, Census 2014 estimates that the prevalence of disability is higher in urban areas 15% and compared to rural areas 12%. These statistics are enough justification that there is most likely students with disability enrolled in urban schools but then these students need to equally get involved in sport as well as education. The purpose of this research is to find out the extent to which the sports facilities in a selected group of schools in Kampala have been designed with consideration for Persons with disability. The research was to be conducted in a qualitative approach and partly quantitative so as to establish how the various case studies of schools have approached or catered for disability sport in their sports facilities starting from accesses, use of the facilities, changing rooms and spectator spaces. The study finally gives strategies or recommendations on how to design or modify the existing school sports facilities in order to cater for students or persons with disability who desire to participate in sports.