Disabled people facing barriers to watching and playing sport as think tank says progress on ableism “has stalled”

•  More than half disabled people spoken to prevented from watching sport in a venue of their choice

• UK’s only disability think tank calls on pubs, stadiums and venues to throw open doors to disabled people during summer of sport

• Think tanks says “progress has stalled” on kicking ableism out of sport

New research from the UK’s only disability think tank, The Disability Policy Centre, reveals more than half (52%) of disabled people in the UK surveyed in their research (60 overall) were prevented from watching sport due to a lack of accessibility in their venue of choice, including pubs and stadiums.

The research also shows that disabled people are facing barriers in playing sport, with almost (49%) of those surveyed saying there was a lack of suitable options to play sport or take part in physical activity near where they lived. 

Over a quarter (26%) of those who weren’t able to participate cited a lack of social care support and nearly a quarter (23%) blamed inaccessible transport. 

This comes during a summer of sport including the UEFA European Football Championship in Germany, The Paris Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, where The Metro has already faced criticism for its lack of disabled access.

The research forms part of a new report from the Disability Policy Centre, titled ‘The Power of Sport’, which calls for accessibility in sport at every level, both watching and playing. 

The paper includes a number of recommendations for local and national government, large stadiums, community clubs and hospitality venues to improve accessibility, as well as behaviour change among the general public in having greater awareness. Specific recommendations for change include: 

1. Stronger enforcement of the Equality Act on bars, pubs and clubhouses.

1. Making it easier for the public to report failures of accessibility

1. Free passes for carers accompanying disabled adults to gyms and sports centres.

1. Legal obligation on gyms and sports centres to offer adjustments to disabled people. 

1. Mandatory disability awareness training for sports coaches and gym instructors.
   

Chloe Schendel-Wilson, Co-Founder and Director of the Disability Policy Centre, said: 

“We’ve seen a very welcome push to kick racism, sexism and homophobia out of sport recently, but progress has stalled on ableism. The impact of the Lionesses on women and girl’s football shows the power that sport can have.

“Our new report shows many are still facing barriers to both watching and playing sport, which can not only impact a person’s health and life chances but causes social isolation and a lack of community. For example, some might have been forced to watch the Euros at home alone instead of in a pub with friends because of a lack of accessibility. 

“To change this, we need enforcement of existing equality laws, to make it easier to report accessibility failures to councils and a nationwide wake-up call to the injustices facing disabled people. Being disabled isn’t a barrier to playing and watching sport, but a culture that sometimes forgets you exist certainly is - with a new government in place we hope this can start to change.”

Case studies

Matt, 30 from Brighton, has fibromyalgia and is a fan of skateboarding and football. He regularly watches football on TV and occasionally goes to games to support his local team, but faces some significant barriers including costs, transport and fan behaviour.

“I mostly watch sport on my computer now and don’t often go to games because of barriers with travel and atmosphere. I went a couple of years ago and loved it - amazing atmosphere and ripe with social possibilities. But it’s about three miles away and I can't get the bus as my mobility scooter is too big, I don't know anyone who can give me a lift and taxis are very expensive.”

“And when I’m there, I was with three people I didn't really know very well and for most of the first half they were standing up and I was sitting down, which was a major social exclusion because I thought ‘Oh, they're all having a chat up there and I can't’.”

“What would make sport more accessible to me is the same thing that would make living life more accessible for me; other people having a decent understanding of what living with chronic illness is like. Like the people at the game: standing up and not really knowing them that well but not feeling able to say actually that's excluding me.”

Mary, 26 from Wiltshire, is an enthusiastic climber and after facing many accessibility challenges with climbing walls, set up Access to Climb in 2022 as a central information hub on accessibility for climbing centres across the country.

“For many climbing walls there’s just no natural thought process around disabled people - it’s not front of mind at all. I would go to centres and not even be able to get through the front door, let alone up a wall! The impact on me emotionally was that I didn't feel like I belonged in climbing centres anymore. 

“To change things we need a cultural shift so people’s understanding of disability improves and they can communicate better. People aren’t deliberately putting up barriers to disabled people, they just don’t know enough. And when they do, things change. 

“This is why legislation is just one angle or route to change. We need to build from the community up. This includes staff training and the whole of society so people are better educated - everyone has a role to play.”

Harry, 33 from near Salisbury, is wheelchair-user with cerebral palsy and has also faced cost and cultural barriers when it comes to enjoying sport to the full in sports grounds and stadiums. 

“The tickets for wheelchair users at the cricket, for example, were £85 last time I checked and the carer also had to pay £55. That’s a big increase from before Covid.”

“Once you’re in the grounds, often viewing platforms aren’t positioned high enough to see. And  for ground with less money, like in non-league football, you’re often rammed up against the perimeter barriers. 

“Some sports have done really well, like the horse racing where they have dedicated accessibility coordinators. But we need this level of understanding across the board. Whether you’re neurodivergent or a wheelchair user, British sport has to be 100% accessible to everyone.” 

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Case studies and spokespeople available for interview on request, please contact louie@lfbcomms.com 07748 102192 or Chloe Schendel-Wilson, Co-Founder and Director of the Disability Policy Centre on chloe@dispolcentre.org.

Research methodology and data 

• The research interviews were conducted by Soda (https://www.wearesoda.org/) - a disabled-led social enterprise which helps organisations be more inclusive. 

• They consisted of 60 disabled people surveyed and a further 35 interviews conducted between 2023-2024, focusing on their experiences of both watching and playing sport. 

• Key findings include: 

• 51.8% of disabled people surveyed were prevented from watching sport due to a lack of accessibility in their venue of choice.

• 49.1% of respondents said that there were a lack of suitable options to play sport, or take part in physical activity, near where they lived.

• 26.4% said that the lack of Social Care support was what prevented them from taking part in the activity they wish.

22.6% said that Accessible Transport was a major barrier for them.