Disability Sport Info: Recent Episodes
Dr Chris Brown
The Disability Sport Info podcast discusses academic insights on different topics to do with disability sport. This show is perfect if you want to hear from expert academics researching disability sport.
In this special episode, I speak to Giles Long, founder of the LEXI classification system. LEXI (https://lexi.global/) communicates the Parasport classification system in a clear and simple manner.
During our chat I discover why and how LEXI was invented, what makes LEXI unique, and the best ways of communicating the Parasport classification system.
Enhance your enjoyment of the Paralympics with this deep dive into the LEXI classification system.
Please get in touch with your thoughts on the episode
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In this episode, the first of a special series on the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, I explore what disability is. Professor Tom Shakespeare, a renowned Disability Studies scholar, discusses the meaning of disability for the individual and how disability is perceived within society.
This episode is perfect if you want to learn about disability to support your enjoyment of the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
Please get in touch with your thoughts on the episode
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In this short episode, I announce an exciting new YouTube series for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Exclusive content will be hosted on the @DisabilitySportInfo YouTube channel before and during the event.
I'll show you how the Paralympics became the event it is today, how success is achieved, and consider the legacy of the Paralympics, and much more besides!
Be sure not to miss out by subscribing to the Disability Sport Info channel on YouTube so you can become a Paralympics expert, too!
Please get in touch with your thoughts on the episode
Thanks for listening to the Disability Sport Info show!
In this emergency podcast, I react to Labour winning a landslide in the UK General Election. I consider what the new Labour government means for disability sport, specifically at the grassroots sport level.
Please get in touch with your thoughts on the episode
Thanks for listening to the Disability Sport Info show!
Please email disabilitysportinfo@gmail.com to share your feedback. I'd love to hear from you.
In this episode, the UK's Get Active (2023) strategy for physical activity and sport participation is considered. An expert panel consider the details of the strategy and its implication for disabled people's sport participation and physical activity. Specifically, we consider the UK government's pledge to get 700,000 more disabled people active by 2030 as part of the Get Active strategy.
This episode was filmed in front of a live audience at the University of Hertfordshire's Festival of Ideas, Friday 17th May 2024.
This episode and other clips from the event are available on our YouTube channel, @DisabilitySportInfo.
Thanks for listening to the Disability Sport Info show!
Please email disabilitysportinfo@gmail.com to share your feedback. I'd love to hear from you.
In this episode, I'm joined by Josef Baines, Insight Manager at London Sport, to discuss the physical activity and sport participation of disabled Londoners.
We consider the current sport and physical activity of disabled Londoners, including projects London Sport are supporting. We discuss the impact and influence of the cost of living crisis on disabled Londoners' sport and physical activity participation. We move onto policy where we consider London Sport's Manifesto and the latest government policy for sport, Get Active (2023). The legacy from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is considered, followed by Josef explaining the lessons he's learned from working in the disability sport and physical activity sector.
Thanks for listening to the Disability Sport Info show!
Please email disabilitysportinfo@gmail.com to share your feedback. I'd love to hear from you.
In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Andrea Bundon to discuss the transition and retirement experiences of Parasport athletes. We consider the current support and experiences of athletes who are exiting the sport. We discuss the impact of being declassified, an issue unique to Parasport, and how this impacts the athlete. Finally, we appraise how post-playing career support and guidance for athletes can be improved.
Link to Project PRISM: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/phc/impact/project-prism/
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Please email disabilitysportinfo@gmail.com to share your feedback. I'd love to hear from you.
In this episode, I speak with Dr Bryce Dyer to understand the role technology plays in Parasport performance.
We consider how technology has developed from crude pieces of technology to sophisticated, state of the art equipment. The disparity in technology between richer and poorer nations is appraised, including how this impacts their Paralympic performance. We discuss, at length, the cases of Markus Rehm and Oscar Pistorius, evaluating the role and influence of technology on their performances. Finally, Dr Dyer explains what gold standard technology in Parasport means to him.
Listen to this episode if you want to get a detailed insight about the role and importance of technology in Parasport.
Thanks for listening to the Disability Sport Info show!
Please email disabilitysportinfo@gmail.com to share your feedback. I'd love to hear from you.
In this episode, I speak with elite Deaf athletes, Claire Stancliffe and Nathan Young, about their sporting careers. Claire is a GB & England Deaf Women's footballer, while Nathan is a GB & England Deaf Swimmer.
In the episode, we consider Claire and Nathan's careers, the (lack of) funding and recognition of Deaf sport, and how the UK sport system compares internationally. Finally, Claire and Nathan consider how the Deaf sport system can be improved.
Thanks for listening to the Disability Sport Info show!
Please email disabilitysportinfo@gmail.com to share your feedback. I'd love to hear from you.
In this episode, I discuss the support provided to Parasport athletes. I speak with Dr Mike Hutchinson of the British Paralympic Association to consider this in more detail. On the show, we discuss the nature and extent of support provided to athletes, the influence and role of classification, and how the BPA are supporting athletes in the lead-up to the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
Thanks for listening to the Disability Sport Info show!
Please email disabilitysportinfo@gmail.com to share your feedback. I'd love to hear from you.
In this episode, I speak with Dr Rob Townsend to consider high-performance Parasport coaching. We consider the current state of play, the scope and quality of coach education in Parasport, as well as examples of best practice.
Below are links to papers referenced in the episode.
Link to Rob's PhD thesis: https://bit.ly/43mveXd
Link to paper discussing care from the perspective of a highly impaired high-performance athlete https://bit.ly/3U9YZ9n
Thanks for listening to the Disability Sport Info show!
Please email disabilitysportinfo@gmail.com to share your feedback. I'd love to hear from you.
In this episode, I speak with Adam Blaze, CEO of Activity Alliance, the leading voice for disabled people in sport and activity in England. We discuss the role of the Activity Alliance in supporting disabled people to be active. We consider the policy challenges and opportunities facing the Activity Alliance. We then assess disabled people's current physical activity and sport participation. Finally, we consider whether it's possible there will ever be parity in sport participation between disabled and non-disabled people.
Disability Sport Info has been shortlisted for the Best Equality and Social Impact podcast in the Sports Podcast Awards! To show your support for the podcast, be sure to vote for Disability Sport Info before 6th April 2023, the closing date for voting. Voters will need to go to https://www.sportspodcastgroup.com/sports_category/best-equality-and-social-impact-podcast/ and from there either login or create an account to cast your vote.
Thanks for listening to the Disability Sport Info show!
Please email disabilitysportinfo@gmail.com to share your feedback. I'd love to hear from you.
This episode explores cheating methods in Parasport. I'm joined by former GB Paralympian, and current PhD researcher at the University of Birmingham, Ali Jawad, to explore this area in more depth.
On the show, Ali explains why classification may be the biggest threat to the integrity of the Paralympics. The controversial and dangerous method of boosting is discussed, followed by an assessment of doping in Parasport. Finally, Ali explains why athletes need to have a greater say in the regulation of anti-doping.
This episode was recorded in April 2022 ahead of the high-performance sport series and while recording the Accessercise episode with Ali.
Thanks for listening to the Disability Sport Info show!
Please email disabilitysportinfo@gmail.com to share your feedback. I'd love to hear from you.
In this episode, I speak to Owain Davies, CEO of Level Playing Field, to discuss Level Playing Field's Unite For Access 2023 campaign. We first discuss the sport spectatorship experiences of disabled sports fans, considering the gaps in provision as well as best practice examples.
The second half of the episode focuses on the Unite For Access campaign. The campaign runs from Saturday 25th February 2023 to Sunday 12th March 2023 and aims to improve access and inclusion for disabled sports fans.
We consider how the Unite For Access initiative can celebrate existing accessibility initiatives as well as highlighting the importance of inclusion and accessibility for disabled sports fans.
More information about the Unite For Access campaign is available here: https://www.levelplayingfield.org.uk/campaigns-research/weeks-of-action/unite-for-access-2023/
Thanks for listening to the Disability Sport Info show!
Please email disabilitysportinfo@gmail.com to share your feedback. I'd love to hear from you.
In this episode, I speak with Professor David Legg to understand how Parasport can be managed and governed.
We discuss what Parasport is and how nations have approached the management of sport for elite athletes with impairments. We consider how the efficiency of Parasport management and governance can be improved. Finally, we turn our attention to the future of Parasport and the most important factors that will shape future management and governance.
Thanks for listening to the Disability Sport Info show!
Please email disabilitysportinfo@gmail.com to share your feedback. I'd love to hear from you.
In this episode, I explore talent identification and development of athletes in Parasport. I speak with Professor Joe Baker to understand in detail what talent identification and development is. We consider approaches to finding and developing talent in a Parasport context, as well as how to build a sustainable Parasport talent system.
Thanks for listening to the Disability Sport Info show!
Please email disabilitysportinfo@gmail.com to share your feedback. I'd love to hear from you.
In this episode, I explore the classification system. I speak with PhD student, Janet Lawson, to understand in detail what classification is, as well as some of the challenges with the classification process. We consider why classification is often a misunderstood process, as well as why it can be source of controversy. Finally, we consider how the classification process can be improved.
Thanks for listening to the Disability Sport Info show!
Please email disabilitysportinfo@gmail.com to share your feedback. I'd love to hear from you.
In this short episode, I reflect on the 1st year of the podcast and look forward to year 2 of the podcast. I also issue a call for feedback on the podcast.
Thanks for listening to the Disability Sport Info show!
Please email disabilitysportinfo@gmail.com to share your feedback. I'd love to hear from you.
This is a bumper episode that focuses on sport participation in action for disabled people. The following topics are covered:
- Voluntary sports clubs;
- Coaching;
- Visual impairments;
- Physical impairments;
- Intellectual impairments;
- Deaf sport;
- Accessercise fitness app.
Each topic is available as a standalone episode on my Disability Sport Info podcast site: https://disabilitysportinfo.buzzsprout.com
Thanks for listening to the Disability Sport Info show!
Please email disabilitysportinfo@gmail.com to share your feedback. I'd love to hear from you.
In this special episode, I speak to Ali Jawad, a GB Paralympian currently studying a PhD in anti-doping in Paralympic sport, to discuss the Accessercise app he has created. Accessercise is a fitness app specifically designed for people with impairments.
In the episode, we consider why the app has been created, the features of the app, and consider how the app can support disabled people to be physically active.
Accessercise is available to download via the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Website link: https://join.accessercise.com/
Twitter: @accessercise
This episode was recorded on 11th April 2022.
Thanks for listening to the Disability Sport Info show!
Please email disabilitysportinfo@gmail.com to share your feedback. I'd love to hear from you.
This episode of the Disability Sport Info show explores coaching in grassroots disability sport.
Keon Richardson explains what coaching is and how to provide the best coaching experience for disabled people. Challenges for coaches are considered along with potential recommendations for coaches.
Links to STEP model:
UK Coaching: https://www.ukcoaching.org/resources/topics/videos/subscription/the-step-model-explained
England Football Learning: https://learn.englandfootball.com/articles/resources/2022/make-coaching-personal-with-the-step-framework
This episode of the Disability Sport Info show considers the sport participation and physical activity experience of individuals with an intellectual impairment.
Dr Eric Svanelöv, of Mälardalen University, considers the sport participation experiences of individuals with an intellectual impairment. We discuss how intellectual impairment is positioned and perceived in society and the impact this has on sport participation. We also consider the relationship between sport and social care.
This episode of the Disability Sport Info show considers the sport participation and physical activity experience of individuals with a physical impairment.
Dr Toni Williams, of Durham University, explains the sport participation experiences of physically impaired individuals. We consider some of the enablers and barriers physically impaired people face when accessing and participating in sport and physical activity. We also discuss how providers can promote sport and physical activity. Finally, we consider what can be done to increase the sport participation and physical activity of people with physical impairments.
This episode of the Disability Sport Info show considers visually impaired sport.
Dr Jess Macbeth explains the sport participation experiences of visually impaired individuals. We consider some of the enablers and barriers visually impaired people face when accessing and participating in sport. We also discuss the importance of providers being aware of the lived experience of visual impairment when designing and providing sport.
In this Disability Sport Info episode, I'm joined by Professor Ruth Jeanes to discuss the role of voluntary sport clubs in the grassroots sport participation of disabled people.
We explore the opportunities for disabled people to participate at clubs, the effectiveness of clubs in engaging with disabled people, and how clubs can improve the quality of their disability provision.
This is a bumper episode that covers the foundational principles of grassroots sport for disabled people. The following topics are covered:
- Introduction to sport and physical activity;
- Theories explaining sport participation;
- Disability sport policy;
- Sport participation and physical activity of disabled children and young people;
- Enablers and barriers.
Each topic is available as a standalone episode on my Disability Sport Info podcast site: https://disabilitysportinfo.buzzsprout.com
In this Disability Sport Info episode, I'm joined by Professor Brett Smith to discuss physical activity and sport participation of disabled children and young people.
In our chat, we focus on the latest Chief Medical Officers’ (CMO) Physical Activity Guidelines for disabled children and young people. We consider what these findings mean for our understanding of disabled children and young people's participation in physical activity and sport.
This episode was recorded in February 2022.
Please click on the following link to access the CMO Guidelines and infographic: https://bit.ly/3OytbX6
In this Disability Sport Info episode, I'm joined by Professor Simon Darcy to discuss enablers and barriers to sports participation for disabled people.
In this episode, we consider factors that can enable sports participation as well as potential constraints to sports participation. We also reflect on potential solutions to some of the highlighted constraints.
In this Disability Sport Info episode, I'm joined by Dr Matej Christiaens to discuss policy formulation and development for grassroots disability sport.
In this episode, we consider the history and development of policy for disability sport, what the current policy landscape is for disability sport, how policy can be improved in the future, and consider examples of good practice. We also cover 400 years of history in 30 minutes.
In this Disability Sport Info episode, I'm joined by Dr Ian Brittain to discuss how theory can help us understand the sport participation and physical activity of disabled people.
In the episode we discuss theories and models of disability, the nature and scope of ableism, and how theory can be used in an applied setting to make change at the grassroots level.
In this bitesize episode, I am joined by Dr Laura Misener to critically consider the potential of the Paralympic Games to increase disabled people's grassroots sport participation.
This episode is from a longer episode called, 'The Paralympic Games: Legacies and Empowerment', which is available to listen in full via the following link: https://disabilitysportinfo.buzzsprout.com/1901085/9691398
In this bitesize episode, I am joined by Dr Danielle Peers to critically assess the potential for the Paralympic Games to provide empowerment or disempowerment for disabled people.
This episode is from a longer episode called, 'The Paralympic Games: Legacies and Empowerment', which is available to listen in full via the following link: https://disabilitysportinfo.buzzsprout.com/1901085/9691398
This Disability Sport Info episode provides a foundational basis for understanding the physical activity and sport participation of disabled people. Professor Kathleen Martin Ginis from the University of British Columbia, Canada, lends her expertise to inform our understanding of this area.
In the show we discuss the data on physical activity and sport participation of disabled people, the benefits of physical activity and sport participation, some of the challenges that are involved, promotional strategies used to highlight the importance of physical activity and sport participation and, finally, look at what needs to be done to ensure we have a better understanding of physical activity and sport participation.
This Disability Sport Info episode explores the grassroots sport participation experiences of Deaf and hearing impaired individuals. I'm joined by Rebecca Foster MBE and Chris Price, from the West Bromwich Albion Football Foundation, who draw upon their expertise to explain in detail the sport experiences of Deaf and hearing impaired individuals.
We explore the current research landscape, the challenges experienced by Deaf and hearing impaired individuals, and then conclude by considering what needs to be done to increase grassroots sport participation.
In this episode, I explore the potential impact the Paralympic Games may have on disabled people.
The potential for sport participation legacies from the Paralympic Games is reviewed, followed by a critical appraisal of the empowerment/disempowerment potential of the Paralympic Games for disabled people.
In this episode, I explore the history and development of the Paralympic Games.
I trace the origins of the Paralympic Games and critically explore how and why the Paralympic Games has developed to be the event we know today. I then consider the relationship between the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee, and how this has influenced the development of the Paralympic Games. Finally, the media coverage of Paralympians and the Paralympic Games is discussed.