Disabled people might get hurt
Let's call time on negative perceptions about disability, inclusion, and sport.
Join the who says? movement. Watch this film and access positive stories, resources, and guidance to challenge perceptions.
Watch disabled people might get hurt film
Disabled people might get hurt film transcript
View Who says? campaign phase one accessible communication formats
For far too long disabled people have faced misconceptions and presumptions on what is and isn’t possible, including in sport. It's time to move the conversations on, open people's minds and shift out-dated views on disability.
Launched on 15 July 2019, phase one of Who says? gave people the positive stories, resources, and guidance to replace these negative ideas. The campaign films focus on six perceptions and provide upbeat insight from a mixture of disabled and non-disabled people.
The campaign was created in response to Activity Alliance’s Taking part with disabled people: perceptions research, which explored non-disabled people’s attitudes on inclusive activity. The findings show a lack of understanding could be causing long-lasting barriers for disabled people. For the least active audience in our country, people’s attitudes can make or break activity experiences.
This page responds to Activity Alliance's research and insight on the perception – Disabled people might get hurt.
What do we know?
Insight from our 2019 research report – Taking part with disabled people
- Non-disabled people were concerned that disabled people may get hurt (47%).
- Three in five (60%) non-disabled people felt it would be difficult for someone with physical or visual impairments to play sport or be active compared to almost a third (30%) of those with a hearing impairment. This contrasts with Active Lives data that shows people with hearing impairment are among the least likely to be active.
Insight from our 2019 research report – Delivering activity to disabled people
- Two-thirds (64%) of deliverers with experience and almost three quarters (72%) without felt there were health and safety implications in making their sport inclusive.
Calling time on this perception
It is not unusual for you or your organisation to think disabled people don’t want to join in. What’s important is your enthusiasm to learn more. And Activity Alliance with our members have ways to support you on this journey.
Who says? empowers people, on and off the field of play, to challenge their own and others’ perceptions.
Taking part in any sport can stretch everyone’s limits. That’s whether it's outside playing or elite performance. Any activity also carries the potential for getting hurt or picking up an injury. Awareness and prevention help lead to a more positive experience.
Most people accept pain or injury can be part of sport or being active. Some people with impairments may be more at risk for various reasons. But it is down to the individual and we all know our own body best. The wheelchair rugby players featured in our film talk openly about the game’s collisions and risk. Health and safety guidance is there to protect everyone, not to exclude disabled people.
“Health and safety laws should not be a barrier to organising and running amateur sports activities that are an important part of community life.”
Health and Safety Executive
Common reasons for getting hurt can be not training properly or too much. Or, not wearing the right footwear and safety equipment. These are reasons not limited to disabled people.
The Inclusion Club Hub
Activity Alliance created this tool to help clubs to include more disabled people in their activities. It can be used in a variety of ways within your club.
You can use it to audit your club to see how inclusive you are or as a resource to support your club's development. Perhaps use it to develop a club action plan, support your Clubmark process, or your general planning. It will give you ideas, methods and resources to ensure everyone has a positive club experience.
Visit the Inclusion Club Hub website
Sport England Club Matters
A health and safety policy is the foundation on which to develop health and safety procedures and practices for your club.
The policy should highlight your club’s commitment towards good health and safety, while clarifying procedures and areas of responsibility. Alongside your policy, you should investigate what level of insurance your club needs.
Read more guidance on health and safety
Health and Safety Executive – amateur sports clubs
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (‘the Act’) and the regulations made under it, apply to club organisers who are both employers and self-employed. The law requires them to do what is reasonably practicable to ensure people’s health and safety.
Competitors/players taking part in competitions and/or training are generally subject to non-statutory rules set down by sports National Governing Bodies (NBGs). These rules will include topics like supervision (coaching staff to player ratios) and training, plus ‘in play’ emergency procedures and medical provision. Some of these rules and procedures may go beyond the requirements of workplace health and safety legislation.
Read more on health and safety
What to do to plan and manage low-risk, small-scale sports and activities
Call time on negative perceptions with us
Taking the conversation beyond the #WhoSays hashtag is important to us. It’s crucial we talk honestly and openly about matters that affect disabled people’s activity, like policy, funding and promotion. We hope the campaign leads to bigger conversations, greater collaboration and wider systemic responses.
If your organisation would like to get involved, has a story to share or you have a great idea for the campaign, please contact news@activityalliance.org.uk or call 0161 228 2868. We have a range of digital supporter materials available for organisations and the media to use.
