1. 22006400 BenjaminFisher
Disability and Sport: A qualitative study on how
attitudes towards disability are influenced by
experiences of sport
Benjamin Fisher
Dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the degree of
BSc in Human & Physical Geography (Honours)
GV3GED
Supervisor: Dr. Ruth Evans
April 2016
Word Count: 9,999

2. 2
Abstract
Attitudes towards disability are prominent in all socio-cultural environments. Whether the physical
barriers that exist outweigh the attitudinal barriers, a person with a disability has their potential
limited. Interviews, focus groups, group interviews and participant observation brought to light
experiences of disability and sport, alongside attitudes towards disability. It was found that although
sport provided socio-physical benefits such as cardiometabolic fitness or social interaction, it also
stimulated confidence, self-efficacy, and a strong self identity. This allowed an individual with a
disability to achieve their potential and experience higher quality day to day life. Comparatively, sport
was negative for some disabled people, with the notion of the ‘supercrip’ disempowering some. The
‘supercrip’ term represents sporting elites with a disability being like superhumans, resulting in
society having higher expectations of people with a disability. Both through interaction and media, it
was found societal attitudes towards disability were challenged. Through the medium of sport, ableist
assumptions were challenged and increased awareness from sporting events like the paralympic
games justifies the importance of sport in changing attitudes towards disability.