Sport and Physical Activity for People with Intellectual Disability

People with intellectual disability struggle to access physical activity, and therefore miss out on many of the potential benefits that physical activity can provide. Lack of support including facilities, infrastructure, and staffing were associated with low rates of participation. Behaviour problems were not associated with rates of physical activity. Children were motivated to participate in physical activity by enjoyment and acknowledgement of improvement, while their parents were motivated by the health benefits to their child. Understanding motivations and factors associated with participation, and improving the support provided, can help improve access to physical activity for people with intellectual disability.