Why be active?
Studies have documented that the health benefits of regular physical activity are the same for people with and without disabilities. However, it has been observed that people with disabilities participate less and have lower levels of fitness. Only 21% of females and 28% of males with disabilities in Australia participate in sufficient amounts of physical activity (ABS, 2008). Less active people have a greater risk of developing diseases such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and coronary heart disease. Physical inactivity among people with a disability has also been linked to an increase in the severity of disability and a decreased involvement in the community.
Participating in sport and active recreation is important in reducing the likelihood of poor health and wellbeing. People with a disability can gain numerous mental and physical benefits from being physically active on a regular basis. These benefits include:
- Reduced risk of developing a chronic condition such as diabetes, stroke, or heart disease.
- Reduced risk of developing a secondary condition related to the primary disability.
- Increased fitness and strength.
- Allows you to focus on your abilities, not your disability.
- Boosts energy and enhances strength to enable you to perform more tasks on your own, such as grocery shopping or housework.
- Ability to maintain a higher level of independence, sense of freedom and quality of life.
- Improve self esteem, mental health and wellbeing.
- Greater social interaction. Being active provides a healthy social outlet where people can discuss common experiences, talk about solutions to various challenges confronted.
- Fun and enjoyment!
- Help to manage anxiety, stress and enhances ability to cope.
How to get active
Disability Sport & Recreation provides and promotes sport and recreation opportunities for people with disabilities throughout Victoria. People with disabilities can engage in many different types of sport and recreation pursuits. For most sports, if the activity doesn’t work for all abilities, it can usually be adapted to enable everyone to participate. There are sport and recreation activities available to suits all types of disabilities, level of ability and activity interests.
The SportRec Access Model
The new SportRec Access Model helps connect people with opportunities, assisting individuals to locate sport and recreation activities most suitable to them. The SportRec Access Model adopts a person-centered approach enabling the individual user to search for sport and recreation opportunities according to several key criteria including location, age, gender and type of disability. Individuals can choose to search for opportunities online via the search function on the website homepage or through calling our 1800 BE IN IT toll free number.
SportRec Access online search
Users have the ability to conduct a quick, basic search or a full search that lists the complete details of all opportunities available according to the selected criteria. To search for opportunities now, Click Here.
SportRec Access 1800 toll free number
Users can also locate sport and recreation opportunities via calling the SportRec Access 1800 toll free number. Each call is answered by a fully trained operator that will best assist the user in finding the most appropriate opportunities for their personal requirements and preferences. To get active now, call 1800 BE IN IT (1800 234 648)