CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION/ BACKGROUND “Sport means all forms of physical activity which, through casual and organised participation, aim at expressing or improving physical fitness and mental well-being, forming social relationships or obtaining results in competition at all levels.” Despite the volume of evidence indicating the benefits of sports and regular physical activity for health and functioning, people with disabilities are far less likely to engage in physically active lifestyles than are people without disabilities. Promoting moderate levels of physical activity among people with disabilities is an important goal for public health and public policy, as regular physical activity improves …show more content…

DEFINITIONS OF TERMS OF CONCEPTS * Differently Abled Persons - are those suffering from restriction of different abilities, as a result of a mental, physical or sensory impairment, to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being; * Impairment - is any loss, diminution or aberration of psychological, physiological, or anatomical structure of function;

* Disability –a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more psychological, physiological or anatomical function of an individual or activities of such individual; a record of such an impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment; * Handicap – refers to a disadvantage for a given individual resulting from an impairment or a disability, that limits or prevents the functions or activity, that is considered normal given the age and sex of the individual; * Rehabilitation – is an integrated approach to physical, social, cultural, spiritual, educational and vocational measures that create conditions for the individual to attain the highest possible level of functional ability; * Social Barriers – refer to the characteristics of institutions, whether legal, economic, cultural, recreational or other, any human group, community, or society which limit the fullest possible participation of disabled persons in the life of the group. Social