In this special episode, I speak to Giles Long, founder of the LEXI classification system. LEXI (https://lexi.global/) communicates the Parasport classification system in a clear and simple manner. During our chat I discover why and how LEXI was invented, what makes LEXI unique, and the best ways of communicating the Parasport classification system…

In this episode, the first of a special series on the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, I explore what disability is. Professor Tom Shakespeare, a renowned Disability Studies scholar, discusses the meaning of disability for the individual and how disability is perceived within society. This episode is perfect if you want to learn about disability to sup…

In this short episode, I announce an exciting new YouTube series for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Exclusive content will be hosted on the @DisabilitySportInfo YouTube channel before and during the event. I'll show you how the Paralympics became the event it is today, how success is achieved, and consider the legacy of the Paralympics, and much …

In this emergency podcast, I react to Labour winning a landslide in the UK General Election. I consider what the new Labour government means for disability sport, specifically at the grassroots sport level. Please get in touch with your thoughts on the episode Thanks for listening to the Disability Sport Info show!…

In this episode, the UK's Get Active (2023) strategy for physical activity and sport participation is considered. An expert panel consider the details of the strategy and its implication for disabled people's sport participation and physical activity. Specifically, we consider the UK government's pledge to get 700,000 more disabled people active by…

In this episode, I'm joined by Josef Baines, Insight Manager at London Sport, to discuss the physical activity and sport participation of disabled Londoners. We consider the current sport and physical activity of disabled Londoners, including projects London Sport are supporting. We discuss the impact and influence of the cost of living crisis on d…

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Andrea Bundon to discuss the transition and retirement experiences of Parasport athletes. We consider the current support and experiences of athletes who are exiting the sport. We discuss the impact of being declassified, an issue unique to Parasport, and how this impacts the athlete. Finally, we appraise how post-…

In this episode, I speak with Dr Bryce Dyer to understand the role technology plays in Parasport performance. We consider how technology has developed from crude pieces of technology to sophisticated, state of the art equipment. The disparity in technology between richer and poorer nations is appraised, including how this impacts their Paralympic p…

In this episode, I speak with elite Deaf athletes, Claire Stancliffe and Nathan Young, about their sporting careers. Claire is a GB & England Deaf Women's footballer, while Nathan is a GB & England Deaf Swimmer. In the episode, we consider Claire and Nathan's careers, the (lack of) funding and recognition of Deaf sport, and how the UK sport system …

In this episode, I discuss the support provided to Parasport athletes. I speak with Dr Mike Hutchinson of the British Paralympic Association to consider this in more detail. On the show, we discuss the nature and extent of support provided to athletes, the influence and role of classification, and how the BPA are supporting athletes in the lead-up …

In this episode, I speak with Dr Rob Townsend to consider high-performance Parasport coaching. We consider the current state of play, the scope and quality of coach education in Parasport, as well as examples of best practice. Below are links to papers referenced in the episode. Link to Rob's PhD thesis: https://bit.ly/43mveXd Link to paper discuss…

In this episode, I speak with Adam Blaze, CEO of Activity Alliance, the leading voice for disabled people in sport and activity in England. We discuss the role of the Activity Alliance in supporting disabled people to be active. We consider the policy challenges and opportunities facing the Activity Alliance. We then assess disabled people's curren…

This episode explores cheating methods in Parasport. I'm joined by former GB Paralympian, and current PhD researcher at the University of Birmingham, Ali Jawad, to explore this area in more depth. On the show, Ali explains why classification may be the biggest threat to the integrity of the Paralympics. The controversial and dangerous method of boo…

In this episode, I speak to Owain Davies, CEO of Level Playing Field, to discuss Level Playing Field's Unite For Access 2023 campaign. We first discuss the sport spectatorship experiences of disabled sports fans, considering the gaps in provision as well as best practice examples. The second half of the episode focuses on the Unite For Access campa…

In this episode, I speak with Professor David Legg to understand how Parasport can be managed and governed. We discuss what Parasport is and how nations have approached the management of sport for elite athletes with impairments. We consider how the efficiency of Parasport management and governance can be improved. Finally, we turn our attention to…

In this episode, I explore talent identification and development of athletes in Parasport. I speak with Professor Joe Baker to understand in detail what talent identification and development is. We consider approaches to finding and developing talent in a Parasport context, as well as how to build a sustainable Parasport talent system. Please get i…

In this episode, I explore the classification system. I speak with PhD student, Janet Lawson, to understand in detail what classification is, as well as some of the challenges with the classification process. We consider why classification is often a misunderstood process, as well as why it can be source of controversy. Finally, we consider how the…

In this short episode, I reflect on the 1st year of the podcast and look forward to year 2 of the podcast. I also issue a call for feedback on the podcast. Please get in touch with your thoughts on the episode Thanks for listening to the Disability Sport Info show!Af Dr Chris Brown

This is a bumper episode that focuses on sport participation in action for disabled people. The following topics are covered: Voluntary sports clubs; Coaching; Visual impairments; Physical impairments; Intellectual impairments; Deaf sport; Accessercise fitness app. Each topic is available as a standalone episode on my Disability Sport Info podcast …

In this special episode, I speak to Ali Jawad, a GB Paralympian currently studying a PhD in anti-doping in Paralympic sport, to discuss the Accessercise app he has created. Accessercise is a fitness app specifically designed for people with impairments. In the episode, we consider why the app has been created, the features of the app, and consider …

This episode of the Disability Sport Info show explores coaching in grassroots disability sport. Keon Richardson explains what coaching is and how to provide the best coaching experience for disabled people. Challenges for coaches are considered along with potential recommendations for coaches. Links to STEP model: UK Coaching: https://www.ukcoachi…

This episode of the Disability Sport Info show considers the sport participation and physical activity experience of individuals with an intellectual impairment. Dr Eric Svanelöv, of Mälardalen University, considers the sport participation experiences of individuals with an intellectual impairment. We discuss how intellectual impairment is position…

This episode of the Disability Sport Info show considers the sport participation and physical activity experience of individuals with a physical impairment. Dr Toni Williams, of Durham University, explains the sport participation experiences of physically impaired individuals. We consider some of the enablers and barriers physically impaired people…

This episode of the Disability Sport Info show considers visually impaired sport. Dr Jess Macbeth explains the sport participation experiences of visually impaired individuals. We consider some of the enablers and barriers visually impaired people face when accessing and participating in sport. We also discuss the importance of providers being awar…

In this Disability Sport Info episode, I'm joined by Professor Ruth Jeanes to discuss the role of voluntary sport clubs in the grassroots sport participation of disabled people. We explore the opportunities for disabled people to participate at clubs, the effectiveness of clubs in engaging with disabled people, and how clubs can improve the quality…

This is a bumper episode that covers the foundational principles of grassroots sport for disabled people. The following topics are covered: Introduction to sport and physical activity; Theories explaining sport participation; Disability sport policy; Sport participation and physical activity of disabled children and young people; Enablers and barri…

In this Disability Sport Info episode, I'm joined by Professor Brett Smith to discuss physical activity and sport participation of disabled children and young people. In our chat, we focus on the latest Chief Medical Officers’ (CMO) Physical Activity Guidelines for disabled children and young people. We consider what these findings mean for our und…

In this Disability Sport Info episode, I'm joined by Professor Simon Darcy to discuss enablers and barriers to sports participation for disabled people. In this episode, we consider factors that can enable sports participation as well as potential constraints to sports participation. We also reflect on potential solutions to some of the highlighted…

In this Disability Sport Info episode, I'm joined by Dr Matej Christiaens to discuss policy formulation and development for grassroots disability sport. In this episode, we consider the history and development of policy for disability sport, what the current policy landscape is for disability sport, how policy can be improved in the future, and con…

In this Disability Sport Info episode, I'm joined by Dr Ian Brittain to discuss how theory can help us understand the sport participation and physical activity of disabled people. In the episode we discuss theories and models of disability, the nature and scope of ableism, and how theory can be used in an applied setting to make change at the grass…

In this bitesize episode, I am joined by Dr Laura Misener to critically consider the potential of the Paralympic Games to increase disabled people's grassroots sport participation. This episode is from a longer episode called, 'The Paralympic Games: Legacies and Empowerment', which is available to listen in full via the following link: https://disa…

In this bitesize episode, I am joined by Dr Danielle Peers to critically assess the potential for the Paralympic Games to provide empowerment or disempowerment for disabled people. This episode is from a longer episode called, 'The Paralympic Games: Legacies and Empowerment', which is available to listen in full via the following link: https://disa…

This Disability Sport Info episode provides a foundational basis for understanding the physical activity and sport participation of disabled people. Professor Kathleen Martin Ginis from the University of British Columbia, Canada, lends her expertise to inform our understanding of this area. In the show we discuss the data on physical activity and s…

This Disability Sport Info episode explores the grassroots sport participation experiences of Deaf and hearing impaired individuals. I'm joined by Rebecca Foster MBE and Chris Price, from the West Bromwich Albion Football Foundation, who draw upon their expertise to explain in detail the sport experiences of Deaf and hearing impaired individuals. W…

In this episode, I explore the history and development of the Paralympic Games. I trace the origins of the Paralympic Games and critically explore how and why the Paralympic Games has developed to be the event we know today. I then consider the relationship between the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee, and …

In this episode, I explore the potential impact the Paralympic Games may have on disabled people. The potential for sport participation legacies from the Paralympic Games is reviewed, followed by a critical appraisal of the empowerment/disempowerment potential of the Paralympic Games for disabled people. Please get in touch with your thoughts on th…