The Role of Schools in Constructing Self-perceptions of Sport and Physical Education in Relation to People with Disabilities

Relatively little work has been carried out upon the effect of educational environment upon the sporting involvement of children with disabilities. This paper is concerned with the educational experiences of a group of athletes who competed in the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. It highlights the major influence that the impact of the educational experiences of a child with a disability can have upon many areas of the child's life. Not only do the experiences of physical education within school have a long-term effect upon the participation, or otherwise, of individuals with disabilities in sport in later life, but they could also possibly affect the competitive strength of future Great Britain teams in the field of disability sport.