Around twenty people gathered last Friday at the Grand Case Beach Club to discuss access to sport for people with disabilities. Beyond the observations and still prevalent prejudices, the round table organized as part of SXM Inclusive Sport allowed to to bring out several possibilities : better identify the people involved, support the clubs and above all learn to work together.
In Saint-Martin, inclusive sport remains underdeveloped. The difficulties are numerous: accessibility of infrastructure and roads, transportation, lack of information and prevention, training of educators, and adapted equipment.
An audience that is still difficult to identify
Before even considering which activities to offer, a crucial first step is determining how many people with disabilities live in the area, their ages, and their needs. People in wheelchairs remain largely invisible, some staying at home due to poorly adapted environments. The challenges vary depending on age. Support and resources exist for children up to 18 and seniors, but adults seem to be receiving far less attention. This lack of support complicates access to regular sports activities in an area where disability remains a taboo subject.
Clubs to support
One of the answers lies with the clubs. The main objective is to to allow existing sports facilities to gradually accommodate people with different profiles, as some already do. Training for leaders and educators, information on the opportunities offered by each discipline, and adaptations can be a starting point. LikeHandynamics which allows children with disabilities to discover different sports, the creation of inter-association projects The possibility of pooling equipment, skills, and funding was also discussed. The development of a disabled sports league Saint-Martin could also be a possibility.
Event organizer in partnership with the Guadeloupe Weightlifting Club and the CREPS, the CTOS SBSM It assists associations in developing their projects and grant applications, centralizing their needs and seeking appropriate funding. COM Sports Department could also contribute to this networking. The challenge now is to do to emerge a network of actors capable of acting togetherRather than multiplying initiatives, “We’ve launched the debate, that’s a first step. It’s up to us to make it all concrete,” concluded Virginie Carien, president of CTOS SBSM. _Vx
