Mapping participation of disabled youth in sport and other free-time activities to facilitate their livelihoods development

Abstract

The benefits of engaging in sport and other free-time activities empower youth to learn social and life skills. There is little research evidence that participation builds competence for livelihoods development of youth with disabilities. This article investigates the capacity of non-governmental organisations to extend the outcomes of participation in these activities for livelihoods development. It argues that occupational therapists employed in non-governmental organisations could play this key role. The study utilised an exploratory, intrinsic case study design to provide meaningful, context-related knowledge and insight about real-life events. Twenty disabled youth and 12 parents of disabled children, between the ages of 18 and 37 years, were selected through five non-governmental organisations in an urban metropole and town, and two rural farming communities in South Africa. Two themes emerged: first, family as anchor and catalyst for social and economic inclusion; and second, creating capacity for inclusive environments, systems and services to maximise resources for livelihood development. Occupational therapists in non-governmental organisations are well positioned to facilitate capacity-building of a community-based inclusive workforce to ensure systems for public service delivery are accessible and affordable. Then, the social and life skills developed through sport and free-time activities may enable the livelihoods development of all youth.