Research summary · Para sport
Wheelchair basketball players describe inclusion as more than access
Ten wheelchair basketball players with and without disabilities, drawn from UK settings, discussed their experiences of inclusion in semistructured interviews. Researchers used reflexive thematic analysis to examine how participation, rules and coaching shaped those experiences.
- Publication year
- 2026
- First published online
- Publication type
- Qualitative interview study
- Journal
- Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly
- Population / context
- Wheelchair basketball · Participation and coaching
What the publication reports
Players generally valued opportunities for people without disabilities to participate, but described belonging and meaningful involvement as distinct from simply being allowed to play. Competition pathways, sport rules and diversity in coaching emerged as important themes.
Limits and interpretation
Ten interviews provide contextual depth rather than representative prevalence estimates. The study did not test an inclusion programme or establish which coaching changes improve participation; experiences may differ outside the sampled UK environments.
Read the source
Consult the original record for the full author list, methods, references, funding and competing-interest disclosures.
They Need to Change the Way They Define Inclusivity in the Propaganda of It . . .It's a Lot Deeper Than Just ABs (Able-Bodies) Can Play
Original publication / indexed recordPMID: 42838126DOI: 10.1123/apaq.2025-0162Reader discussion
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